The Hidden Fortress (1958), NR
The Hidden Fortress, courtesy of Janus Films
- DATE:
- TIME:
- 4:30 pm – 6:50 pm
- Director:
- Akira Kurosawa
The Hidden Fortress stars the inimitable Toshiro Mifune as a general charged with guarding his defeated clan’s princess (a fierce Misa Uehara) as the two smuggle royal treasure across hostile territory. Accompanying them are a pair of bumbling, conniving peasants who may or may not be their friends. The Hidden Fortress delivers Akira Kurosawa’s trademark deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action and compassionate humanity.
In Japanese with English subtitles.
Film Series: All that Glitters
Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Gold: Enduring Power, Sacred Craft, this series organized by Brian Jacobson, Professor of Visual Culture at Caltech, explores gold’s enduring power to attract, enchant, bewitch and beguile. From Charlie Chaplin’s droll send-up of the Klondike gold rush to medieval Japan and the legend of El Dorado, these films illustrate how gold’s broad cultural significance has made it an appealing subject for filmmakers the world over. Each film begins with an introduction by Jacobson.
EVENT DETAILS
- Fee:
- Free with museum admission.
- Details:
- No reservations needed. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the screening.
- Location:
- Theater
Related Events
Films & Performances:
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), NR
In the 16th century, the ruthless Spanish conquistador Don Lope de Aguirre (Klaus Kinski) leads an expedition in Peru in search of El Dorado. Accompanied by his daughter Flores (Cecilia Rivera), Aguirre faces off against his superior, Don Pedro de Ursúa (Ruy Guerra), and grows increasingly volatile after seizing control of the group. As Aguirre presses deeper into the Amazonian jungle, he descends further into madness. MORE INFO
Lectures:
Art and Arbitrage: Gold across the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages
During the European Middle Ages, silver was more abundant for the northern shores of the Mediterranean, whereas coastal North Africa enjoyed easier access to gold via trans-Saharan trade. Each had something the other wanted, and sought to leverage the system to their own advantage. This differential led to rivalry, subterfuge and even war, with the Crusade to Tunis in 1270 being largely spurred and motivated by a thirst for gold. In addition to their use for exchange and coinage, gold and silver were artists’ materials, and their paucity or abundance profoundly shaped artistic practice. In this lecture, Guérin reveals how this valuable metal influenced both historical events and artistic production. MORE INFO
Tours & Talks:
Gold: Enduring Power, Sacred Craft
Join a Museum educator for an in-depth look at artworks in the exhibition Gold: Enduring Power, Sacred Craft. By examining works from across the globe that span 3,000 years, discover how gold has been used to achieve a wide range of effects, from inspiring devotion to asserting strength. MORE INFO