Shogun (TV 1980)

An English navigator becomes both pawn and player in the deadly political games in feudal Japan.

Director:

Jerry London

Writers:

James Clavell (novel), Eric Bercovici

Stars:

Richard Chamberlain, Toshirô Mifune, Yôko Shimada

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Chamberlain	...	Pilot-Major John Blackthorne
Toshirô Mifune	...	Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Yôko Shimada	...	Lady Toda Buntaro - Mariko
Frankie Sakai	...	Lord Yabu
Alan Badel	...	Father Dell'Aqua
Damien Thomas	...	Father Alvito
Michael Hordern	...	Friar Domingo
Vladek Sheybal	...	Captain Ferriera
Yûki Meguro	...	Omi
Noburo Kaneko	...	Lord Ishido
George Innes	...	Vinck
Leon Lissek	...	Father Sebastio
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tôru Abe	...	Hiromatsu
Anne Bancroft	...	Narrator of US home video version (voice)
John J. Carney	...	Ginsel

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

japan | shogun | feudal japan | feudal society | intrigue | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

James Clavell's Shogun

Filming Locations:

Daiei-Kyoto Studios, Kyoto, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asahi National Broadcasting Company, Jardine Matheson Co. Ltd., National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 125 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

English actors were hired for the entire 6 months that production was going to take. It was not possible to do the same with the Japanese ones, specially 'Toshiro Mifune', so during filming there was a constant negotiation about his availability as shooting schedule depended on it. Apparently at some moments negotiations became very tight and tense

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Goofs

It is mentioned that the use of wheels is forbidden in Japan. When Father Alvito and his followers split off from Blackthorne and Mariko they take a road that clearly shows signs of wear by wheels.

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Quotes

Father Alvito: You are a heretic Dutchman pirate! You're going to die.

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Connections

Edited from Shogun (1980)

User Reviews

The first GREAT Mini

This is the one, that showed everyone else how to really tell a book in a mini-series. No body had every really got it right before. Very few have gotten it right since. This is for people that love books, told on film. Not a butchered hatchet job.

A Classic.