The Most Beautiful (1944)
Ichiban utsukushiku (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 25min
- Drama
- Jun 1987 (USA)
- Movie
World War II film about female volunteer workers at an optics plant who do their best to meet production targets.
Director:
Writer:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Takashi Shimura | ... |
Chief Goro Ishida
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| Sôji Kiyokawa | ... |
Soichi Yoshikawa, Chief of General Affairs Section
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| Ichirô Sugai | ... |
Ken Shinda, Chief of Labor Section
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| Takako Irie | ... |
Noriko Mizushima, dorm mother
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| Yôko Yaguchi | ... |
Tsuru Watanabe, president of women workers
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Sayuri Tanima | ... |
Yuriko Tanimura, vice president of the women workers
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| Sachiko Ozaki | ... |
Sachiko Yamazaki
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Shizuko Nishigaki | ... |
Fusae Nishioka
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| Asako Suzuki | ... |
Asako Suzumura
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Haruko Toyama | ... |
Masako Koyama
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Aiko Masu | ... |
Tokiko Hiroda
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| Kazuko Hitomi | ... |
Kazuko Futomi
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| Shizuko Yamada | ... |
Hisae Yamaguchi
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| Itoko Kôno | ... |
Sue Okabe
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Toshiko Hattori | ... |
Toshiko Hattori
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Emiko Rei | ... |
Chie Shima
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Haruko Mii | ... |
Haruko Kawai
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Minori Toyohara | ... |
Minori Yoyota
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Eiko Hirayama | ... |
Yoshiko Shirayama
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Harue Yamashita | ... |
Kiyo Mishima
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Mineko Mashiro | ... |
Mineko Bando
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Isuzu Miyakawa | ... |
Shizue Miyazaki
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Michiko Aikawa | ... |
Michiko Ayukawa
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Teruko Katô | ... |
Teruko Sato
(as Teruko Kato)
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| Akitake Kôno | ... |
Fife and drum band instructor
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| Unpei Yokoyama | ... |
Dormitory worker
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| Chieko Nakakita | ... |
Student worker
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Koyuri Tanima | ... |
Factory worker
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Directed by
| Akira Kurosawa | ||
Written by
| Akira Kurosawa | ... | () |
Produced by
| Motohiko Itô | ... | producer |
| Jin Usami | ... | producer |
Music by
| Seiichi Suzuki | ||
Cinematography by
| Jôji Ohara | ||
Production Design by
| Teruaki Abe | ||
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Hiromichi Horikawa | ... | assistant director |
| Jin Usami | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Hisashi Shimonaga | ... | sound effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Taizo Shin | ... | still photographer |
| Masaki Ônuma | ... | lighting technician |
Music Department
| Hisashi Iuchi | ... | music producer |
Additional Crew
| Hisahsi Iuchi | ... | fife and drum band instructor |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Toho Film Distributing Co. Ltd. (1944) (Japan) (theatrical)
- R5/S8 (1987) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting (2007) (Japan) (tv)
- Toho (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- BFI Video (2011) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2010) (United States) (DVD) (Eclipse edition)
- WOWOW (2012) (Japan) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Toho Studios (sound stages)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
During World War II, the management of a war industry of optical instruments for weapons requests an effort from the workers to increase the productivity during four months. The target for male workers is an increase of 100% of the production, but the female workers, led by the dedicated Tsuru Watanabe, ask the direction to surpass their goal from 50% to 70%. During the period, the women have to overcome illness and their personal problems to complete their quota. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Most filming for the movie was shot on location at a real factory in Hiratsuke, named Nippon Kogaku, which helped give the movie more of a documentary feel to it. To get the best performance out of his actors, Akira Kurosawa had them live in the dormitory at the factory during filming, while being trained in the same jobs their characters were doing. This would start the career long trend of Kurosawa having his cast and crew live on set as big families during both preproduction and filming. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999). See more » |