Stray Dog 4K: Criterion Collection Review

Stray Dog, Spine #233, is now available to purchase on 4K from the Criterion Collection.

Perhaps no filmmaker is more synonymous with the Criterion Collection than Akira Kurosawa (okay, maybe it’s Bergman). Seven Samurai holds the esteemed honor of a single-digit spine number, and more than twenty of the auteur’s titles have made their way into the collection. From minor classics like Dreams to undisputed masterpieces like Rashomon, it’s a filmography worthy of the celebration and admiration it has received. Now, his gritty 1940s crime drama Stray Dog is getting an upgrade to 4K, and it’s a glorious restoration.

Why Stray Dog matters

Stray Dog takes a simple plot and weaves it into a gripping noir thriller that sets the standard for the police procedural. When a rookie detective’s police-issued firearm is stolen on a crowded bus, a trail of destruction follows. The story explores how that single act not only affects Detective Murakami (Toshiro Mifune) but also a slew of innocent citizens unfortunate enough to find themselves in the path of the newly armed and desperate criminal. It’s a domino effect of theft and death that weighs heavily on Murakami, who feels responsible for every destructive act the criminal commits with his gun. This emotional burden and the desire to fix his mistakes before anybody else is harmed is the driving force of the story, but his pursuit is complicated when Murakami begins to sympathize with the very criminal he’s hunting.

The film explores the complex idea that a person’s circumstances can drive them to desperate actions. Similar to Bicycle Thieves (also in the Criterion Collection), the story ponders whether a perpetrator may also be a victim. It’s a thoughtful examination of society’s effect on a person while simultaneously being a riveting police procedural that paved the way for countless movies and television series to follow. The pairing of Murakami with a seasoned, weathered detective played by frequent Kurosawa collaborator Takashi Shimura is a trope that has persisted for decades. As we watch the duo close in on their suspect, interrogating accomplices, and following leads, it feels reminiscent of modern interpretations like Law and Order or CSI. Essentially, we might not have the modern version of crime-based entertainment we watch today without Stray Dog.

Video quality

The 4K digital restoration preserves the grit and texture of the original black-and-white photography while allowing the incredible cinematography to shine brighter than ever. The heavy use of shadows throughout the film is especially striking, swallowing characters in darkness and reinforcing the noir atmosphere that defines Stray Dog. Contrast levels are excellent, giving the deep blacks real weight without crushing detail. Even nearly eighty years later, Kurosawa’s visual style feels modern and remarkably cinematic.

Audio quality

The uncompressed monaural soundtrack is clean and surprisingly strong for a film from 1949. Dialogue remains crisp throughout, allowing the procedural nature of the story and the emotional desperation in the performances to come through clearly. The quieter moments especially benefit from the restoration work, helping immerse audiences in the oppressive summer heat and tension hanging over the city.

Packaging and presentation

The cover art by William Logan and Jim McKendree is sleek and enticing, with the Criterion Collection’s iconic “C” shaped logo in the top left corner. Detective Murakami stands in the large shadow of a suspended pistol, signaling the darkness that the theft of the firearm will cast over him throughout the film. It’s a simple image that perfectly conveys the tone and essence of the story.

Does it have a slipcover? No
Does it feature original artwork? Yes
Does it include a digital copy? No

Special features

• New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary by Stephen Prince, author of The Warrior’s Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa
• Short documentary on Stray Dog, from the series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create, featuring interviews with director Akira Kurosawa, production designer Yoshiro Muraki, actor Keiko Awaji, and others
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty and an excerpt from Kurosawa’s book Something Like an Autobiography

  Cover by William Logan and Jim McKendree

The special features are scarcer than with many Criterion releases, but the short documentary alone is worth it.

Is it worth buying on 4K?

The film’s been available in the collection for a long while, but the newly restored 4K release is absolutely worth the upgrade. It may not be the first film mentioned when discussing the best of Kurosawa’s work (the burden of having a filmography comprised of masterpieces), but it’s a gripping crime thriller that showcases the filmmaker’s distinct style early in his career.

Is it worth a blind purchase? Whether you’re a life-long cinephile or a newcomer dipping their toes in the classics of cinema, Kurosawa is always a great bet.

Purchase your copy of Stray Dog on 4K from the Criterion Collection here.