Akira Kurosawa: Every Movie Ranked Worst To Best

The vast majority of Kurosawa's best films are focussed on the kindness of strangers and the virtues of humankind, and in that vein Red Beard is one of the director's finest and most compassionate achievements.

Featuring the final collaboration between Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune, the drama tells the story of a caring doctor (Mifune) who attempts to teach an arrogant med student (Yūzō Kayama) to connect with his patients whilst healing them.

Balancing a myriad of themes but never letting go of its core idea that love is the best thing we do, Red Beard may have caused a rift between its star and director, but their magic remains alive and well throughout the film, with Mifune giving one of the quietest and most tender performances of his illustrious career.