History Film / TheHiddenFortress

This film is best known in the West for the idea of focusing on the peasants at first; this storytelling tool provided the inspiration for [[StarWars two droids named R2-D2 and C-3PO]].

This film is best known in the West for the idea of focusing on the peasants at first; this storytelling tool provided the inspiration for [[StarWars two droids named R2-D2 and C-3P0]].

* HappinessInSlavery: The farm girl that they buy off a pimp eventually becomes extremely protective of Princess Yuki.

* SlaveRevolt: After the Yamana force large numbers of peasants and prisoners of war to dig for gold beneath the Akizuki castle, the diggers attack their captors during the night. Tahei and Matashichi fall to the sidelines and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere sneak away when they notice the fighting has passed them by.]] It's not shown whether any of the other slaves escaped.

* SingleStrokeBattle: Notably averted. While most Kurasawa samurai films tend to have fights that only take one or two strikes per opponent, the duel between Hyoe and Rokurota has a length measured in minutes.

* DefensiveFailure: Two Yamano soldiers confront the heroes, but Rokurota intimidates them so much that they put up no fight as he snatches the spears from their hands and the swords from their belts.

* SpiritualSuccessor: In interview George Lucas stated that ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'' was one of the greatest inspirations for ''Film/ANewHope''. It's a story about a princess and her protectors, told through the eyes of two lesser characters. In ''Hidden Fortress'' it is the two thieves; in ''Star Wars'' it is [=C3PO=] and [=R2D2=]. In both films the comical interplay between the two characters is a major theme. Lucas' original draft called for the two droids, the princess and an aging Jedi general as her protector, before eventually turning that to Luke Skywalker.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Hyoe]]

* LighterAndSofter: After the heaviness of Kurosawa's previous two films, ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'' and ''Film/TheLowerDepths'', he decided to make one that was much more light and fun.

--> "First, we arrived late to the war. Then they mistook us for the defeated side and forced us to bury the dead. We finally escaped, and now it's been two days that we've only had water."

* PinballProtagonist

* TheHero: Makabe Rokuruta, despite the peasants being the central characters.

* HeroicBSOD: He doesn't show it in front of the princess, but Rokurota looks clearly disturbed when, thanks to news relayed through Matashichi, [[spoiler: he learns that his sister has been executed as part of the plan for him and the princess to escape]].

* DecoyProtagonist: Creator/ToshiroMifune gets top billing but technically his character is just the SupportingProtagonist. The real focus are the two greedy peasants.

* SupportingProtagonist: Tahei and Matashichi are the comic relief duo, yet the story is told from their perspective.

* ColdHam: Makabe speaks calmly, but his body language is over the tope.

* LargeHam: Princess Yuki, whose dialog comes in one flavor: ANGRY.
** It's as though Creator/ToshiroMifune finally found a female version of himself.

** It's as though ToshiroMifune finally found a female version of himself.

* BigOlEyebrows: Princess Yuki, though hers are no match for those of Makabe Rokuruta as played by ToshiroMifune.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Tahei and Matashichi.

* {{Samurai}}

%%* SupportingProtagonist

* ThoseTwoGuys / VitriolicBestBuds: Tahei and Matashichi, naturally!

* AutomatonHorses: Actually the horses are treated respectfully, with the exception of the scene where Makabe jumps on a totally random horse and chases down some enemies without using the reins. But then, he's [[{{Badass}} just that good.]]
* {{Badass}}: Makabe Rokurota - no surprise here, as he is played by ToshiroMifune.

-->-- '''GeorgeLucas'''

* JerkassHasaPoint: While he and Tahei are utterly incorrigible, Matashichi is right to point out that Rokurota is pretty much bullying them.

* ExpositionDiagram: One of the peasants draws up a map in the sand to explain their plan how to cross borders to Hayakawa.

* [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonists]]: Tahei and Matashichi are already a couple of spineless, greedy fools. They only become bigger scoundrels as the movie goes on. At their worst, they consider [[AttemptedRape molesting the princess]].