Rewind @ www.dvdcompare.net - Seven Samurai AKA Shichinin no samurai (1954)

R0 Hong Kong - Mei Ah Extras: Text notes: -"Best Buy": Movies from Akira Kurosawa (20 pages) -"Greatest Director" (7 pages) -"Databank": Synopsis and Cast and crew Subtitles: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: NTSC Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese Dolby Digital 2.1 Case type: Keep Case Notes: Mei Ah discs are reputed to have be poorer quality than other releases. This is a flipper disc. Text notes are in English or Chinese. Special thanks to Rewind user Electricboy for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R0 South Korea - CineKorea Special Edition Extras: DISC ONE * The Film - Part 1 (111:37) Audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck Trailers/behind-the-scenes (10:38) DISC TWO * The Film - Part 2 (94:58) Audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck "Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: Seven Samurai" documentary (49:08) poster Subtitles: English, Japanese, Korean Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: NTSC Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Case type: Keep Case Notes: Includes a booklet in Korean. Digitally remastered picture and sound. Packaged in 2-disc amaray case inside a sturdy slipcase. The extras include Korean subtitles. Special thanks to Rewind user pat00139 for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R0 Switzerland - Trigon Film #243 Extras: DISC ONE * The Film - Part 1 (102:05) DISC TWO * The Film - Part 2 (91:09) "Film Essay by Walter Ruggle" documentary (38:47) Subtitles: German (optional) Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 Case type: Digipak Notes: Packaging mistakenly states region 2 only. Special thanks to Rewind user Christian_Bütikofer for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R1 America - Criterion Collection #2 Commentaries: Audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck Extras: Theatrical trailer (4:10) Subtitles: English (optional) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: NTSC Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 Case type: Keep Case Notes: Includes liner notes by David Ehrenstein. The 1st print of this DVD also included a 5 minute restoration demonstration, which was then removed from Criterion's DVD release at the request of Toho Films due to copyright reasons, this DVD was also Region 0. This version is now OOP and is therefore very rare (thank you to Rewind visitor Electricboy for this information). The subsequent printings are now OOP also, and have been replaced by the Re-Issue. Also in a 4-disc "Akira Kurosawa four samurai classic" box set, with "The Hidden Fortress", "Yojimbo", and "Sanjuro". Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R1 America - Criterion Collection AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa Subtitles: English (optional) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: NTSC Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 Case type: Special Case Notes: Transfer from a 2K restoration. Part of the 25 film 25 disc "AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa" which includes "Sanshiro Sugata" (1943), "The Most Beautiful" (1944), "Sanshiro Sugata Part Two" (1945), "The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail" (1945), "No Regrets for Our Youth" (1946), "One Wonderful Sunday" (1947), "Drunken Angel" (1948), "Stray Dog" (1949), "Scandal" (1950), "Rashomon" (1950), "The Idiot" (1951), "Ikiru" (1952), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "I Live in Fear" (1955), "Throne of Blood" (1957), "The Lower Depths" (1957), "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), "The Bad Sleep Well" (1960), "Yojimbo" (1961), "Sanjuro" (1962), "High and Low" (1963), "Red Beard" (1965), "Dodes’ka-den" (1970), "Kagemusha" (1980), "Madadayo" (1993). Packaged in a deluxe linen-bound collector's set with an illustrated 96-page hardback book. Special thanks to Rewind user Brent_Reid for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R1 America - Criterion Collection Re-issue #2 Extras: DISC ONE The Film (part 1) (111:48) Audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck (1998) Audio commentary by film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns, and Donald Richie (2006) Production Gallery - Behind the Scenes (21 stills) - Posters (12 stills) Theatrical Trailers and Teaser (with Play All) - Trailer No. 1 (4:10) - Trailer No. 2 (2:56) - Trailer No. 3 (2:43) - Teaser (0:40) DISC TWO* The Film (part 2) (94:54) Audio commentary by Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck (continued) (1998) Audio commentary by film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns, and Donald Richie (continued) (2006) "Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: Seven Samurai" 2002 documentary (49:08) DISC THREE* "My Life in Cinema" 1993 conversation between Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Oshima (115:51) "Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences" 2006 documentary (55:06) Subtitles: English (optional) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: NTSC Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 4.0 Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 Case type: Digipak Notes: Includes a 56 page book. Transfer from a 2K restoration, windowboxed with thin black bars on all sides of the frame. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 France - Fravidis/Opening Extras: DISC ONE The Film DISC TWO* Audio commentary by Jean Douchet (in some scenes, 30 min) "Kurosawa, Samurai of the Seventh Art" documentary (8:15) Seven Themes in the Seven Samurai (10:27) Akira Kurosawa Filmography Subtitles: French (forced) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Digipak Special thanks to Rewind user electricboy for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page	Buy this disc from Amazon France
R2 Germany - KSM Extras: Slideshow w/20 images (1:30) About the film (3 text pages) Slideshow of biographies (1:42) - Toshiro Mifune (4 pages) - Takashi Shimura (4 pages) - Seiji Miyaguchi (2 pages) - Akira Kurosawa (4 pages) German trailer (3:09) Subtitles: German (forced) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono German Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Notes: Remastered transfer. Special thanks to Rewind user Brent_Reid for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 Germany - Pegasus/KSM Extras: Slideshow (1:21) Subtitles: None Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): German Dolby Digital 1.0 Case type: Keep Case Notes: Cover mistakenly states runtime as 160 minutes and the soundtrack as Dolby Digital 2.0. Special thanks to Rewind user Brent_Reid for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 Germany - New KSM 3 Disc Edition Extras: DISC ONE * The Film - German Theatrical Cut (154:53) Slideshow w/20 images (1:30) About the film (3 text pages) Slideshow of biographies (1:42) - Toshiro Mifune (4 pages) - Takashi Shimura (4 pages) - Seiji Miyaguchi (2 pages) - Akira Kurosawa (4 pages) German trailer (3:09) DISC TWO * The Film - Japanese Theatrical Cut, Part 1 (102:07) DISC THREE * The Film - Japanese Theatrical Cut, Part 2 (91:05) Subtitles: German (forced) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): German Version: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono German Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Japanese Version: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 Holland - Total Film Subtitles: Dutch Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono Case type: Keep Case Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 Italy - Mondo Home Entertainment Extras: Cast & crew filmographies and biographies Production notes Subtitles: Italian Aspect Ratio: 1.30:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Special thanks to Rewind user Electricboy for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 Japan - Toho Extras: DISC ONE * The Film - Part 1 (111:37) Original Teaser (2:39) 1975 Trailer (4:07) 1975 Teaser (0:33) 1993 Trailer (2:36) DISC TWO * The Film - Part 2 (94:58) "Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: Seven Samurai" documentary (49:07) Subtitles: Japanese Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: NTSC Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 surround Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Notes: Includes a booklet. Packaged in a keep case in a hard slip box. Also available in the “Kurosawa Masterworks 1” boxset. The first printing had an error in the transfer with the scene starting at 32:06 with Kanbei repeating itself at 32:22. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 Scandinavia - Sandrew Metronome Extras: Production notes in English (2 pages) Homepage links for Sandrew Metronome Subtitles: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Notes: NTSC-to-PAL port. Bad transfer with compression and interlacing artefacts. Special thanks to Rewind user marlan for providing these specifications. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R2 United Kingdom - British Film Institute Commentaries: Selected Scenes with commentary by film historian Philip Kemp (19:18) Extras: Akira Kurosawa Biography (8 pages) Toshiro Mifune Biography (4 pages) "Yojimbo" bonus trailer (0:27) Weblink Subtitles: English (burned-in) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Notes: Also part of the 5 film 5 disc "Kurosawa Samurai Collection" which includes "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Throne of Blood" (1957), "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), "Yojimbo" (1961), "Sanjuro" (1962). Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page
R4 Australia - The AV Channel Extras: Theatrical trailer (3:56) Bonus trailers - Kurosawa (1:53) - Yojimbo (0:28) - Eastern Eye Montage (2:21) Subtitles: English (optional) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Picture Format: Non-Anamorphic TV System: PAL Soundtrack(s): Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 mono Case type: Keep Case Notes: Includes a booklet with introduction by David Stratton of The Movie Show. Easter eggs: Change title number to 6 (by default it is 7) and the movie will play with the intermission included (added at chapter 16) making the running time 206:45. Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. Return to top of page

OVERALL: Draw

The US Criterion 3 disc re-issue has the lengthiest extras, the original mono and remixed 4.0 audio.
The Japanese release has the original mono and remixed 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, but with fewer extras.
The South Korean release has remixed 5.1 and stereo tracks with more extras than the Japanese release, but lacks the original mono and has less extras compared to the US Criterion re-issue.
The Swiss release has an exclusive documentary.
The French 2 disc set has some unique extras, but the subtitles are in French and not removable.
CUTS:
- R0 Hong Kong- Mei Ah - No cuts
- R0 Special Edition South Korea- CineKorea - No cuts - with intermission (206:26 NTSC).
- R0 Switzerland- Trigon Film - No cuts - without intermission (193:14 PAL)
- R1 America- Criterion Collection - No cuts - with intermission (206:16 NTSC)
- R1 AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa America- Criterion Collection - No cuts - with intermission (206:16 NTSC)
- R1 Re-issue America- Criterion Collection - No cuts - with intermission (206:42 NTSC)
- R2 France- Fravidis/Opening - No cuts
- R2 Germany- KSM - Yes - German theatrical cut (154:53 PAL).
- R2 Germany- Pegasus/KSM - Yes - German theatrical cut (152:22 PAL), with added new copyright credits (152:49 PAL)
- R2 3 Disc Edition Germany- New KSM - No cuts - Includes the original Japanese theatrical cut without intermission (193:12 PAL) and the German theatrical cut (154:53 PAL).
- R2 Holland- Total Film - No cuts
- R2 Italy- Mondo Home Entertainment - No cuts
- R2 Japan- Toho - No cuts - with intermission (206:26 NTSC)
- R2 Scandinavia- Sandrew Metronome - No cuts - with intermission (206:26 NTSC->PAL)
- R2 United Kingdom- British Film Institute - No cuts - without intermission (189:11 PAL)
- R4 Australia- The AV Channel - No cuts - with intermission (201:29 NTSC->PAL) or without intermission (206:37 NTSC->PAL)
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Comparison added by Craig on 15/07/01
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 19/07/22

UPDATE LOG:

04/10/10 - Added R2 Holland.
06/11/19: Added Germany x3, updated US x2, South Korea, Japan, UK, Australia.
26/02/20: Added US AK 100.
19/07/22: Added Swiss.
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Seven Samurai AKA Shichinin no samurai (1954)

R0 Hong Kong - Mei Ah

R0 South Korea - CineKorea
Special Edition

R0 Switzerland - Trigon Film
#243

R1 America - Criterion Collection
#2

R1 America - Criterion Collection
AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa

R1 America - Criterion Collection
Re-issue
#2

R2 France - Fravidis/Opening

R2 Germany - KSM

R2 Germany - Pegasus/KSM

R2 Germany - New KSM
3 Disc Edition

R2 Holland - Total Film

R2 Italy - Mondo Home Entertainment

R2 Japan - Toho

R2 Scandinavia - Sandrew Metronome

R2 United Kingdom - British Film Institute

R4 Australia - The AV Channel

OVERALL: Draw

CUTS:

UPDATE LOG: