7.8/10
78,124
143 user 75 critic

The Last Emperor (1987)

The story of the final Emperor of China.

Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
Reviews
Popularity
3,663 ( 90)

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at Amazon

Won 9 Oscars. Another 47 wins & 16 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Ruocheng Ying ...
The Governor (as Ying Ruocheng)
...
Dennis Dun ...
Big Li
...
Amakasu (as Ryûichi Sakamoto)
...
Eastern Jewel
...
Interrogator
...
Wen Hsiu (as Wu Jun Mei)
...
Chang (as Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa)
Jade Go ...
Ar Mo
Fumihiko Ikeda ...
Yoshioka
...
Tsou Tijger ...
Pu Yi - 8 Years (as Tijger Tsou)
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Storyline

This sweeping account of the life of Pu-Yi, the last emperor of China, follows the leader's tumultuous reign. After being captured by the Red Army as a war criminal in 1950, Pu-Yi recalls his childhood from prison. He remembers his lavish youth in the Forbidden City, where he was afforded every luxury but unfortunately sheltered from the outside world and complex political situation surrounding him. As revolution sweeps through China, the world Pu-Yi knew is dramatically upended. Written by Jwelch5742

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

1500 slaves. 353,260,000 royal subjects. Warlords. Concubines. And 2 wives. He was the loneliest boy in the world. See more »


Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| | | |

Language:

| | |

Release Date:

15 April 1988 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Le dernier empereur  »

Filming Locations:

 »

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Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$149,460, 20 November 1987, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$43,984,230
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (television)

Sound Mix:

(35 mm prints)| (70 mm prints)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Security was so tight around the shoot that when Peter O'Toole forgot his pass one day, he was denied entrance to the set. See more »

Goofs

At the time when he next sees his mother, Pu Yi says, "My mother has not seen me for seven years." That would make the year 1915, but it is wrong. He should say, "My mother has not seen me for four years," which makes the year 1912. In the spring of 1912, the new republican government divided the Forbidden City by constructing a wall, thus restricting the emperor's domain. Assuming that it is that dividing wall on which Pu Yi and Pu Chieh climb, one must reasonably assume that, since the wall is clearly under construction, the date is mid-1912 at the latest. If so, then Pu Yi has just turned six, not eight, and has been separated from his family for four years, not seven. See more »

Quotes

Pu Yi - 8 Years: I am the Emperor! I can do anything I want!
Big Foot: Yes, oh, yes!
See more »

Connections

Featured in Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

Am I Blue
(1929)
Music by Harry Akst
Lyrics Grant Clarke
Sung by John Lone as Pu Yi
Published by Feldman Music
c/o EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
See more »

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User Reviews

An Example of Quantity and Quality Combining to Make an Unforgettable Film
26 September 2000 | by See all my reviews

"The Last Emperor" is a near perfect film. It was nominated for nine Oscars in 1987 and it won nine (including the Best Picture Oscar). The movie is about the life of Pu Yi (John Lone), China's last emperor. In spite of becoming emperor at the age of three, Yi's reign was more of a burden than anything else. Yi would ultimately end up living an unsavory life of imprisonment which is heartrending to the viewer. "The Last Emperor" is visually stunning. The minute details are amazing. However, the story stands up high as well. Historically accurate for the most part, "The Last Emperor" is easily one of the top 10 films of the 1980s and overall an exceptional achievement in every cinematic department known to man. 5 stars out of 5.


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