Sanjuro (1962)

Toshirô Mifune: Sanjûrô Tsubaki, The Samurai

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Quotes 

• Mutsuta's wife : You glisten too brightly.

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Glisten?

  Mutsuta's wife : Yes. Like a drawn sword.

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : A drawn sword?

  Mutsuta's wife : You're like a sword without a sheath. You cut well, but the best sword is kept in its sheath.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : He was just like me. A drawn sword that wouldn't stay in its sheath. But, you know, the lady was right. The best sword is kept in its sheath. You'd better stay in yours.

• Iori Izaka : [recounting his story about his falling out with his ugly-yet-noble uncle]  I met the Superintendent.

  Samurai : What did he say?

  Iori Izaka : He was cooperative. At first he looked embarrassed, but the story of my uncle shocked him. He pondered. "All right", he said, "I'll help you. I'll talk with your group. Gather them quickly. That's what he said."

  Samurai : He's great!

  Samurai : Right!

  Samurai : A powerful support for us. Not a good-natured scarecrow.

  [All laugh, then turn to face the sound of loud yawns coming from the darkness outside] 

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Wait.

  [the muscular, scruffy middle-aged ronin languidly swaggers in. His hair is unkempt, his sandals tucked into his kimono, his katana, in its scabbard, propped over his shoulder. He looks a mess compared to the other nine warriors before him. He cracks another huge yawn before stepping inside. He idly taps his katana against his shoulder] 

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : An interesting story.

  Iori Izaka : Don't let him go!

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Fool! If I wanted to run, why would I speak?

  [He wanders further into the shrine, hitching his shoulder] 

  Iori Izaka : Why are you here?

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Free room overnight. By the way, overhearing has a merit.

  [Rubs his chin] 

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : They say outsiders can be good judges. Listen. I say the Chamberlain is alright, but the Superintendent is no good.

  Samurai : Don't insult him!

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Take it easy. I haven't seen them. So I'm not cheated by their looks. The Chamberlain is ugly, isn't he? Right? But from your story I judge he's a great man. He doesn't mind being called a fool. Great! But the Superintendent... you mentioned his name with admiration. That means he looks attractive, right? But people aren't what they seem.

  [He sits down on one of the straw mats] 

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Be careful.

• [last lines] 

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : See ya around.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Fool! Doesn't it seem too good to be true? And if it seems so, it usually is.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : We can't move like this! We look like a centipede!

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Stop following me or I'll kill you.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Stupid friends are dangerous.

• Iori Izaka : Let's follow them for now. Circumstances will decide whether we attack or not.

  [to Sanjuro, who is lazing by the window, listening to their conversation] 

  Iori Izaka : What do you say?

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : It's a stupid plan, but some excitement might keep me awake.

  [He yawns and hauls himself up to join Izaka and his companions on one of their shenanigans] 

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : [before their final duel]  Must we fight?

  Hanbei Muroto : Yes. You're treacherous. You made a fool of me.

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Don't get so mad. I couldn't help it.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Nobody thinks to look right under his own nose.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : [caught with an armful of flowers]  I... like camelias.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : You tired of being stupid yet?

• [repeated line] 

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Wait...

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Were you born in the Year of the Ox? You always fly off the handle.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : I can't watch you blunder your way to your deaths.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Why are you looking at me like that? You want to draw your swords? Forget it. A stupid friend's sword is deadlier than an enemy's.

• Hanbei Muroto : Everything in that notice was a bald-faced lie. Superintendent Kikui is the rotten one.

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : But you're his...

  Hanbei Muroto : Retainer. Like attracts like. I'm rotten too. You see, Chamberlain Mutsuta is a shrewd character. Not easy to break. But with him out of the way, this clan is ours for the taking. Kikui is cunning but not a commanding presence. He pushes Mutsuta out of the way...

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : And you and I eat him up.

  Hanbei Muroto : Precisely. I'll take you to him now. But remember: He has an inflated view of himself, so...

  Sanjûrô Tsubaki : Stroke his ego and he'll purr?

  Hanbei Muroto : You catch on fast. Good boy.

• Sanjûrô Tsubaki : I'm smarter when I drink.