‘Seven Samurai’

Seven samurai, who take the job out of idealism, impoverishment or self-testing, are petitioned by a village of impoverished farmers to protect them from the yearly ravages of the roaming brigands. Great, furious, savagely exciting, and one of the screen’s greatest adventure epics with superb battle scenes. Akira Kurosawa wrote and directed (magnificently); Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura (pictured) are among his magnificent seven (Bravo Monday at noon and Tuesday at 8 a.m.).

Other four star films airing this week:

Sunrise / AMC, early Monday, 3:15 a.m.

Anatomy of a Murder / Showtime, Monday, 9:15 a.m.

Yojimbo / Bravo, Tuesday, noon and Wednesday, 8 a.m.

Woodstock / Cinemax, Wednesday, 11:30 p.m.

Rebel Without a Cause / A&E;, early Thursday, 1 a.m.

Rashomon / Bravo, Saturday, 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.