The Most Beautiful (1944): cast, story & where to watch
1944 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1944, The Most Beautiful is a drama and war film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 85 minutes.
What it’s about. The stories of several young women who work in a 'precision optical instruments' factory during the second World War. Despite illness, injury, and tremendous personal hardship, the women persevere in their tasks, devoted to their work and their country's cause.
Who’s in it. The Most Beautiful stars Takashi Shimura as Chief Goro Ishida, Shôji Kiyokawa as Soichi Yoshikawa, Chief of General Affairs Section, Ichirō Sugai as Ken Shinda, Chief of Labor Section and Takako Irie as Noriko Mizushima, dorm mother, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Most Beautiful has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Most Beautiful page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Most Beautiful tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Most Beautiful (1944)?
- In US, The Most Beautiful is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Most Beautiful worth watching?
- The Most Beautiful holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Most Beautiful?
- The Most Beautiful stars Takashi Shimura, Shôji Kiyokawa, Ichirō Sugai, Takako Irie and Yôko Yaguchi.
- When was The Most Beautiful released?
- The Most Beautiful was released in 1944, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.