Popularized and perfected by one of the greatest auteurs in the history of cinema, Akira Kurosawa, the themes of the Samurai film have consistently crossed over into western film. Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" builds on this long tradition of appropriation. "The Magnificent Seven" and "A Fistful of Dollars" are both adaptations of Kurosawa films. Long regarded as one of the world's most astute film analysts, Alain Silver deconstructs the key aspects of this vital film genre, from its focus on violence and death as a means of understanding life and the significance of swords and weaponry, to key elements and motifs such as hara-kiri, rebellion and nostalgia for Japan's feudal past. With comprehensive filmographies of the major directors and films, a survey of the history and myths of the Samurai and extensively illustrated with more than 200 photographs, "The Samural Film" is the ultimate resource for one of world cinema's most influential and compelling genres.