Soleil rouge (1971)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Laird Koenig (writer)
Denne Bart Petitclerc (writer)

Release Date:

9 June 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

2 Desperados ... 1 Hellcat ... and a Samurai ... the greatest fighting force the West has ever known!

Plot:

The Japanese ambassador is travelling through the Wild West by train, when gangsters hold up the train...

Plot Keywords:

Samurai | Beautiful Woman | Color In Title | Spaghetti Western | Female Nudity

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 24

7:15 AM

AMC

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Link Stuart
Ursula Andress	...	Cristina
Toshirô Mifune	...	Kuroda Jubie
Alain Delon	...	Gauche, a.k.a. Gotch Kink
Capucine	...	Pepita
Barta Barri	...	Paco (as Bart Barry)
Guido Lollobrigida	...	Mace (as Lee Burton)
Anthony Dawson	...	Hyatt (as Tony Dawson)
Gianni Medici	...	Miguel (as John Hamilton)
Georges Lycan	...	Sheriff Stone (as George W. Lycan)
Luc Merenda	...	Chato (as Luke Merenda)
Tetsu Nakamura	...	Japanese Ambassador (as Satoshi Nakamoura)
Jo Nieto
Julio Peña	...	Peppie (as Jules Pena)
Mónica Randall	...	Maria

Also Known As:

Red Sun (USA)
Sol rojo (Spain)
Sole rosso (Italy)
The Magnificient Three (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | Italy | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor and Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | West Germany:16 (f) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Portugal:M/18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Les Films Corona

Goofs:

Factual errors: This story takes place around 1870. During the train robbery, several calvary soldiers are shown with foreign type bolt action rifles. The US calvary troops were not issued bolt action rifles during this period, but were equipped with either lever-action Spencer carbines or single-shot Sharps carbines, with single-shot "trap-door" Springield carbines being introduced in 1873.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Shanghai Noon (2000)

Samurai cowboy Yee Ha!

The things that had me on the edge of my seat during Brokeback Mountain was the amazing cinematography and the thrilling music. I just wanted to get as close as possible to the screen.

Those two things were not as impressive in Soleil Rouge, but they were good enough that Oscar nominee Henri Alekan's (Roman Holiday, Wings of Desire) cinematography and three-time Oscar winner Maurice Jarre's (A Passage to India, Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia) music make this film worth watching all by itself.

Directed by Terence Young (Dr. No, From Russia With Love), the film stars one of my favorites, Charles Bronson (Mr. Majestyk , Once Upon a Time in the West, Death Wish 1-5) and Japan's greatest actor, Toshirô Mifune. If that is not enough, it also starred Golden Globe winner Ursula Andress (Dr. No) and Alain Delon (Le Samouraï, The Leopard).

Now, how in the world do you get Mifune in the old west, dressed as a Samurai, no less. He is accompanying the Japanese Ambassador on a train that is robbed by Bronson and Delon. A sword destined to be given to the President is stolen and he must serve his mater and retrieve it. Bronson is double-crossed by Delon and left for dead. Mifune and Bronson join together in a strange journey to retrieve the sword and Bronson's loot.

Mifune is classic Samurai, and Bronson is the funniest I have seen him in the many films I have watched. he has that magic that made Mr. Majestic so fun to watch.

Along the way, they stop in a whorehouse and pick up Andress as a hostage. She is Delon's girlfriend. She gives us a good view of her hootage as she changes a shirt while waiting with Bronson. Spanish actress Mónica Randall also gave us a skintastic display when in bed with Mifune.

Lots of western action with shootouts between Bronson and the bay guys, and the whole gang against the Comanches. Mifune uses his sword to good effect as he adds the expected bright red to the screen.

Eastern philosophy meets Western crudity in a classic.