STRAY DOG/ NORA INU


Japan, 1949, 122 minutes, Black and white.
Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura.
Directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Stray Dog is an early film by celebrated filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa. He began making films during the war, in 1943. This is an early film but very soon afterwards he made Living and Rashomon following these landmark films of the 1950s with a significant series of films for the next 30 years.

While long in running time, this is a rather small film, a narrow focus. Toshiro Mifune portrays a young detective on his first case. But a pickpocket takes his gun from his pocket on a crowded bus. He takes time to investigate and pursue the finding of his gun. He is encouraged by his chief. He is also encouraged by the help of a veteran policeman, detective Sato, Takashi Shimura.

His search takes him to an archives of photos of pickpockets, his identifying a woman, following her all day until she relents and gives him some information. He follows the tracks of the criminal, following him to an eventual confrontation with the gun, and the wounding of detective Sato.

Detective Sato encourages the young detective in completing his first case and assuring him that this gives him some experience. The film was also something of a commentary on petty crime and violence in Japan in the years following the end of the war.

1. The film of postwar Japan? The work of the director? At the beginning of his career?

2. A Japanese story, police and detectives, crime and criminals, underworld, violence and murder?

3. The black-and-white photography, the Japanese city, the streets, homes, clubs, police precincts? The musical score?

4. The title, the reference to the criminal, wandering, like a stray dog? Becoming savage?

5. The focus on the detective? His first case, in the bus, pickpockets, losing his gun? His pursuit of the man through the streets, the details of the chase? His discussion with his chief? The lenient attitude of the chief, helping him to search for the gun? The discussions with Detective Sato? The indication of the woman pickpocket, the archives, the search, identifying the photo?

6. The meeting with the woman, her defiance, the detective following her the whole day, her giving in, giving hints?

7. The detective following through, the dancer and her mother, information about the criminal?

8. The further killings? The gun and the number of bullets?

9. The detective, his discussions with detective Sato? Sato and his experience? Encouragement?

10. On the job, the discovery of the criminal, the pursuit, Sato and his presence? Going into the woods? The confrontation with the gun? The shootings? Sato being injured?

11. The taking of the criminal? Condemnation?

12. The young detective at the beginning of his career, visiting Sato in hospital, Sato’s words of wisdom about further work and forgetting the original case?

13. The film’s comment on crime in postwar Japan?