Guide Note

Stray Dog is a film-noir classic directed by Akira Kurosawa and released in Japan in 1949. It tells the story of a rookie detective who is shamed when his gun is pickpocketed on a bus. As a series of crimes break out and a manhunt begins, the young detective is mentored by an older detective. The film is set amidst a brutal heatwave in the still wrecked portions of post-war Tokyo. The film, one of Kurosawa's first, has won several awards and been remade twice.

Fast Facts

1. Japanese release date: October 17, 1949
2. United States release date: August 31, 1963
3. Originally released in Japan
4. Director: Akira Kurosawa
5. Starring: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Awaji
6. Won four awards at the Mainichi Film Concours