Toshiro Mifune stars as Isaburo, an aging swordsman living a quite life until his clan lord orders that his son marry the lord's mistress, who has recently displeased the ruler. Reluctantly, father and son take in the woman, and, to the family's surprise, the young couple fall in love. But the lord soon reverses his decision and demands the mistress's return. Against all expectations, Isaburo and his son refuse, risking the destruction of their entire family. Director Masaki Kobayashi's film is the gripping story of a peaceful man who finally decides to take a stand against injustice.
在1725的和平期间,三船敏郎扮演的武士因藩主专横无理,他把自己的夫人送给武士,但因为继承人的问题,有强迫他把夫人还给藩主,逼迫武士一家人反叛朝廷,被逼和藩主手下的第一张皇牌仲代达矢决斗,在追捕途中由仲代达矢拦截去路,不准过关,结果,刀来剑去,杀得难解难分......