high and low (1963)

AKA Tengoku to jigoku
"You're a fool to pay, but pay you must."
An executive of a Yokohama shoe company becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom. Wealthy businessman Kingo Gondô (Toshirô Mifune) is about to conclue a huge business deal using all his money. But then he is told that his son is being held for ransom, and is determined to pay. The twist comes when his son is discovered still at home and that the kidnapper has mistakenly taken his chauffeur's son. This leaves Kingo in a moral dilemma. Does he do the right thing or now his son is safe gamble on the police finding the driver's son and keep the money for his business?
An amazing piece of cinema that goes beyond the film noir crime drama tropes as it ramps up the tension and the moral questions.

sanjuro (1962)

AKA Tsubaki Sanjûrô
""
An itinerant ronin (Toshirô Mifune) can't help himself when he begrudgingly comes to the aid of a gang of young samouri who are trying to help a relative who is being framed and imprisoned by a corrupt government official.
Sanjuro returns from his turn in yojimbo, in an indirect sequel which is a touch more light hearted, but still as masterful.

yojimbo (1961)

AKA Yôjinbô
"I'll get paid for killing, and this town is full of people who deserve to die."
A town divided by two criminal gangs is happened upon by an itinerant ronin Sanjuro (Toshirô Mifune) and he decides to play them off against each other. Though things don't necessarily go to plan...
Another masterful piece of cinema by Kurosawa, with it being another of his works adapted by western cinema, in this case Leoni's Fistful of Dollars.

the hidden fortress (1958)

AKA Kakushi-toride no san-akunin
Two peasants are trying to escape back to their homeland after their time in a feudal Shogan's army comes to an end. Their plan is picked up by the defeated army's general (Toshirô Mifune) as a way for them to unwittingly escort the princess and a sizable amount of gold across enemy lines.
The two escapees are often likened to the later robot characters in the Star Wars series of films, providing a large amount of comic relief to the already ingenius story.

seven samurai (1954)

aka Shichinin no samurai
"By protecting others, you save yourselves."
Farmers in fuedal Japan decide enough is enough after a raid by bandits takes all their crops. So they decide to hire a veteran samurai (Takashi Shimura) for protection. Taking pity on them he gathers six other samurai to join him, (including Toshirô Mifune).
A film with a classic reputation, bolstered by many homages made following it from The Magnificent Seven through to Battle Beyond The Stars.

rashomon (1950)

"It's human nature to lie."
A bridal party is traveling through fuedal and waylaid. The bride is raped and the husband murdered. Subsiquently captured the trial hears three different versions of that day's events as recalled by an outlaw, the bride, the samurai's ghost and a woodcutter.
subjective truth is on trial as much as the bandit in this masterful piece of cinema.

the men who tread on the tiger's tails (1945)

Aka Tora no o o fumu otoko-tachi
"It was an unforgivable inpiety..."
In the 12th Century Lord Yoshitsune Minamoto returns to Kyoto after winning a decisive sea battle. Unfortunately his jealous brother orders his arrest and, Yoshitsune and six of his loyal samurai retainers are forced to escape. To reach safety they need to travel incognito as Monks, with the Lord disguised as alowly porter, and attempt to pass through an enemy check point at the border.
Made in 1945 this painful allegory on Japan's condition at the end of World War Two was held back until 1952 before being released. Although short this is none the less a fascinating look at the laws and mores of feudal Japan.