69 years ago, Throne of Blood (1957), directed by Akira Kurosawa, premiered in Japan. A 1961 New York Times review famously dismissed the film as “serio-comic” and “a pictorial extravagance that provides a conclusive howl.” | History of Cinema

On this day, 74 years ago, Rashomon (1950), directed by Akira Kurosawa, premiered in the United States. Originally released in Japan in August 1950, the film gained international attention after winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1951. Its American premiere on 26 December 1951 marked the beginning of Kurosawa’s global recognition and introduced Western audiences to Japanese cinema on an unprecedented scale. | History of Cinema