Shogun (1980) 7.7
An English navigator becomes both pawn and player in the deadly political games in feudal Japan. Director:Jerry London |
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Shogun (1980) 7.7
An English navigator becomes both pawn and player in the deadly political games in feudal Japan. Director:Jerry London |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Richard Chamberlain | ... | ||
| Toshirô Mifune | ... | ||
| Yôko Shimada | ... |
Lady Toda Buntaro - Mariko
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Frankie Sakai | ... |
Lord Yabu
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Alan Badel | ... | |
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Damien Thomas | ... | |
| Michael Hordern | ... |
Friar Domingo
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Vladek Sheybal | ... | |
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Yûki Meguro | ... |
Omi
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Noburo Kaneko | ... |
Lord Ishido
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George Innes | ... |
Vinck
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Leon Lissek | ... |
Father Sebastio
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Tôru Abe | ... |
Hiromatsu
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| Anne Bancroft | ... |
Narrator of US home video version
(voice)
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John J. Carney | ... |
Ginsel
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In the 16th Century, a Dutch ship sails the Pacific from the Americas in order to escape the Spanish. Blackthorn is the pilot of the ship and the first to realize the possibilities of Japan. Japan is a feudal society which has a strong presence of the Portugese. A struggle is in the final stages for who will be the Shogun, the leader who, under the emperor, governs the land. Toranaga sees in Blackthorn things he can use to at least survive the struggle to come, and if both play their hands correctly, become Shogun. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
Incomprehensibly, they tried to sell a two-hour version of the 10-hour miniseries, and it's junk. Why anybody went through this (and I pity the poor editor who had an impossible job) is beyond me, except that there must have been a greedy executive somewhere who thought there was money to be made. Skip the 2-hour version, and dive in to another world, another time.
The full-length version of the miniseries is now available on DVD, and it's the best way to see it. There's a first-rate adaptation of Clavell's novel, crisp direction and sterling performances by Richard Chamberlain, Yoko Shimada and Toshiro Mifune. Outstanding support by John Rhys Davies, Damien Thomas and Alan Badel, as well as a host of Japanese actors keeps the atmosphere rich and the action strong. The adventures of an English Pilot (Chief navigator) in 1600 in Japan - the height of the samurai power - are riveting. Blackthorne (Chamberlain) lands in the midst of the mighty struggle for Shogun: military dictator of the country that's had 600 years of civil war. Unlike many another action tale, an educated woman has a pivotal role.
Or read the book. In the words of one reviewer, "It simply will not let the reader go."