

Kurosawa's crew made this? The hidden gem Japan forgot to tell you about.
Direction
Taniguchi channels Ford and Welles in the jungle.
Cinematography
Mud, sweat, and gold fever in stark black-and-white.
Acting
Mori's descent into madness is quietly devastating.

Director
Senkichi Taniguchi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Toshiro Mifune was originally cast but dropped out—imagine THIS with his chaotic energy instead of Mori's simmering restraint.
Made during Occupation censorship, the film disguises its anti-American capitalism message as a critique of European colonialism. Sneaky.