Shogun (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:

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

James Clavell based the character of John Blackthorne on Will Adams, a real-life English sea captain and adventurer, whose experiences in late 16th-century Japan are paralleled by Clavell's story.

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Goofs

All shots said to be of Osaka Castle are in real life of Himeji Castle.

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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

Buyer Beware: Either 10 Hours or Nothing

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."