March 30 – May 12, 2022

Takashi Shimura: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

ABOUT THE SERIES

The AC pays tribute to one of the most prolific and influential actors of Japan’s rich cinema history: Takashi Shimura. Appearing in nearly 300 films and television shows from the earliest days of the sound era to the early 1980s, Shimura excelled for decades as both a charismatic leading man and a devoted character actor. Demonstrating a seemingly limitless range, Shimura took on a wide variety of roles throughout his career, from the titular alcoholic doctor in DRUNKEN ANGEL, to the frail dying bureaucrat in IKIRU, to the fierce leader in SEVEN SAMURAI.

After a brief career in theatre and radio plays, Shimura made his screen acting debut in the early 1930s, leading to his first significant role as an inspector in Kenji Mizoguchi’s OSAKA ELEGY (1936). Shimura and Mizoguchi went on to collaborate once more in the 1952 THE LIFE OF OHARU, but it was Akira Kurosawa who developed the strongest bond with the versatile actor, casting him in 23 of his 33 films between 1943 and 1980. Our series highlights some of Shimura’s most memorable roles (often acting opposite of his close off-screen friend Toshiro Mifune) in these collaborations, including DRUNKEN ANGEL (1948), THE QUIET DUEL (1949), STRAY DOG (1949), SCANDAL (1950), RASHOMON (1950), IKIRU (1952), SEVEN SAMURAI (1954), I LIVE IN FEAR (1955), THRONE OF BLOOD (1957), THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958), and HIGH AND LOW (1963).

Shimura’s broad filmography also includes outstanding performances in Ishirō Honda’s groundbreaking original GODZILLA (1954) as well as the key kaiju sequels, GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955) and GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964), Masaki Kobayashi’s haunting anthology film KWAIDAN (1965), and the memorable samurai sequel ZATOICHI AND THE FUGITIVES (1968), each of which screen in this 18 film retrospective.

Read More about DRUNKEN ANGEL
WED MARCH 30, 2022

7:00 PM

DRUNKEN ANGEL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about THRONE OF BLOOD
THU MARCH 31, 2022

7:00 PM

THRONE OF BLOOD

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about HIGH AND LOW
FRI APRIL 1, 2022

7:00 PM

HIGH AND LOW

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about HIGH AND LOW
SAT APRIL 2, 2022

4:00 PM

HIGH AND LOW

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about GODZILLA
SAT APRIL 2, 2022

10:00 PM

GODZILLA

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about SEVEN SAMURAI
SUN APRIL 3, 2022

6:00 PM

SEVEN SAMURAI

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about STRAY DOG
WED APRIL 6, 2022

7:00 PM

STRAY DOG

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about DRUNKEN ANGEL
WED APRIL 6, 2022

10:00 PM

DRUNKEN ANGEL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about OSAKA ELEGY
THU APRIL 7, 2022

7:00 PM

OSAKA ELEGY

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about THRONE OF BLOOD
THU APRIL 7, 2022

10:00 PM

THRONE OF BLOOD

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about DRUNKEN ANGEL
FRI APRIL 8, 2022

1:30 PM

DRUNKEN ANGEL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about THE HIDDEN FORTRESS
FRI APRIL 8, 2022

7:00 PM

THE HIDDEN FORTRESS

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about STRAY DOG
SAT APRIL 9, 2022

4:00 PM

STRAY DOG

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN
SAT APRIL 9, 2022

10:00 PM

GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about SEVEN SAMURAI
SUN APRIL 10, 2022

5:00 PM

SEVEN SAMURAI

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Aero Theatre | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about KWAIDAN
SUN APRIL 10, 2022

6:30 PM

KWAIDAN

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about IKIRU
WED APRIL 13, 2022

7:00 PM

IKIRU

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Program begins with a live recording of the Greg Proops Film Club podcast. Feature starts at 7:30 PM. 

Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN
THU APRIL 14, 2022

10:00 PM

GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about RASHOMON
FRI APRIL 15, 2022

7:00 PM

RASHOMON

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about Robert Eggers Selects: THRONE OF BLOOD
FRI APRIL 15, 2022

7:30 PM

Robert Eggers Selects: THRONE OF BLOOD

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Aero Theatre | Selected by Robert Eggers.

Part of the Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about I LIVE IN FEAR
WED APRIL 20, 2022

7:00 PM

I LIVE IN FEAR

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about GODZILLA
THU APRIL 21, 2022

10:00 PM

GODZILLA

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about RASHOMON
FRI APRIL 22, 2022

4:00 PM

RASHOMON

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER
SAT APRIL 23, 2022

10:00 PM

GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about THE LIFE OF OHARU
WED APRIL 27, 2022

7:00 PM

THE LIFE OF OHARU

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER
WED APRIL 27, 2022

10:00 PM

GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about I LIVE IN FEAR
THU APRIL 28, 2022

10:00 PM

I LIVE IN FEAR

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about HIGH AND LOW
FRI APRIL 29, 2022

7:30 PM

HIGH AND LOW

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Aero Theatre | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about THE LIFE OF OHARU / OSAKA ELEGY
SAT APRIL 30, 2022

7:30 PM

THE LIFE OF OHARU / OSAKA ELEGY

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Aero Theatre | Takashi Shimura Retrospective

Read More about ZATOICHI AND THE FUGITIVES
SAT APRIL 30, 2022

10:00 PM

ZATOICHI AND THE FUGITIVES

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about IKIRU / DRUNKEN ANGEL
SUN MAY 1, 2022

7:30 PM

IKIRU / DRUNKEN ANGEL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Aero Theatre | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Read More about SCANDAL / THE QUIET DUEL
THU MAY 5, 2022

7:30 PM

SCANDAL / THE QUIET DUEL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Aero Theatre | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Rare 35mm Prints courtesy of the Japan Foundation. 

Read More about SCANDAL
TUE MAY 10, 2022

7:00 PM

SCANDAL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Rare 35mm Print courtesy of the Japan Foundation. 

Read More about THE QUIET DUEL
THU MAY 12, 2022

7:00 PM

THE QUIET DUEL

$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)

Ticket prices include the $2.00 online booking fee.

Los Feliz 3 | Takashi Shimura Retrospective 

Rare 35mm Print courtesy of the Japan Foundation.