Drunken Angel

film by Kurosawa [1948]

Also known as: “Yoidore tenshi”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Drunken Angel (1948) is a Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Toshirō Mifune as a gangster and Takashi Shimura as a doctor. It is set in the post-World War II desolation of Tokyo and explores themes of desperation and hope, intermingled with violence and melancholy. This film marked a significant point in Kurosawa's career, bringing him fame and launching Mifune's acting career.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Kurosawa Akira
First films
It was Yoidore tenshi (1948; Drunken Angel), however, that made Kurosawa’s name famous. This story of a consumptive gangster and a drunken doctor living in the postwar desolation of downtown Tokyo is a melodrama intermingling desperation and hope, violence, and melancholy. The gangster was portrayed by a new actor, Mifune…
Read More
It was Yoidore tenshi (1948; Drunken Angel), however, that made Kurosawa’s name famous. This story of a consumptive gangster and a drunken doctor living in the postwar desolation of downtown Tokyo is a melodrama intermingling desperation and hope, violence, and melancholy. The gangster was portrayed by a new actor, Mifune…
Read More