Drunken Angel

Drunken Angel (醉いどれ天使, Yoidore Tenshi) is a 1948 Japanese yakuza noir film directed by Akira Kurosawa, and co-written by Kurosawa and Keinosuke Uekusa. Starring Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune, it tells the story of alcoholic doctor Sanada, and his recidivist yakuza patient Matsunaga. Sanada tries to prevent Matsunaga from destroying his body while Matsunaga finds himself gradually confronted with the brutal realities of yakuza life.

Production began in 1947 amid a series of labour disputes in the Toho company. Filming lasted from November to 10 March 1948. During the production of the film Kurosawa encountered a number of setbacks, including the death of his father in February 1948. The film was released in Japan on April 27 1948. The film was the first of sixteen film collaborations between director Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune and is generally considered to be Kurosawa's first major work.