Nora Inu

Nora Inu (Stray Dog in English) is a 1949 Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura.

Bright Lights Film Journal says it's "generally considered his first masterpiece". Images Journal says, "it showcases his ability to orchestrate a complex story without losing the viewer." DVDTalk suggests it

is one of those straightforward, unpretentious entertainments that serves as an excellent and accessible introduction to one of the world's greatest filmmakers.

2/20/2010: Noir of the Week calls it "cinematic art".