Before Akira Kurosawa came to be known for his largely popular Seven Samurai and Rashomon, there was The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail. One of the first films to be directed by Kurosawa, Tiger’s Tail, released in 1945, tells the story of a famed general on the run after his brother puts out an order to have him killed. Along with five trusty samurai (one of which is a young Takashi Shimura, a Kurosawa-regular) as well as a cunning bodyguard, the seven go on the run, disguised as wandering priests.

The group quickly meets a bumbling, cackling porter (Kenichi Enomoto) who tags along after coming to realize who they are. As the group journeys through forests and mountains, they realize they will have to infiltrate their way past security barriers that have been set up to capture them. And thus the stage is set for, albeit a short film (less than 60 minutes), a suspenseful and entertaining film that shows just how talented Kurosawa was even in his early years.

Although, that’s not to say the film is perfect. Since Tiger’s Tail is short, some of its characters aren’t as developed as others, with only the bodyguard and porter being the true standouts of the film. Also, not a whole lot happens over the course of the story and there are only 3 or 4 sets present in the entire movie. Throw in the fact that the film definitely leaves you wanting more when the credits roll and you can’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

Despite these minor qualms, it says something about the film if I wanted to see more (which I did). Between the well developed characters such as Benkei, the wily monk bodyguard, the comic relief of the rubber faced porter, and the interesting premise, The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail is a must-see for Kurosawa fans and film aficionados alike.

For those that would like to see the film on the big screen and live in the New York City area, the Film Forum theatre will be showing the film Tuesday, January 19th at 3:05, 6:30, and 10:00. Don’t miss it.