Sword of the Beast (1965): cast, story & where to watch
1965 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 1965, Sword of the Beast is an action and drama film directed by Hideo Gosha, running about 85 minutes.
What it’s about. Legendary swordplay filmmaker Hideo Gosha's Sword of the Beast chronicles the flight of the low-level swordsman Gennosuke, who kills one of his ministers as part of a reform plot. His former comrades then turn on him, and this betrayal so shakes his sense of honor that he decides to live in the wild, like an animal. There he joins up with a motley group who are illegally mining the shogun’s gold, and, with the aid of another swordsman, gets a chance not just at survival but to recover his name and honor.
Who’s in it. Sword of the Beast stars Mikijiro Hira as Yuuki Gennosuke, Gō Katō as Jurata Yamane, Shima Iwashita as Taka and Kunie Tanaka as Tanji, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, Sword of the Beast has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sword of the Beast page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sword of the Beast tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Sword of the Beast (1965)?
- In US, Sword of the Beast is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Sword of the Beast worth watching?
- Sword of the Beast holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Sword of the Beast?
- Sword of the Beast stars Mikijiro Hira, Gō Katō, Shima Iwashita, Kunie Tanaka and Eijirō Tōno.
- When was Sword of the Beast released?
- Sword of the Beast was released in 1965, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.