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The Last Emperor (1987)

PG_13 163 min  -  Biography | Drama | History  -   18 December 1987 (USA)
7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 35,765 users   Metascore: 76/100 
Reviews: 109 user | 64 critic | 15 from Metacritic.com

The story of the final Emperor of China.

Writers:

Mark Peploe (screenplay), Bernardo Bertolucci (screenplay), and 2 more credits »
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Won 9 Oscars. Another 42 wins & 13 nominations See more awards »

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The Last Emperor -- China's final Emperor is chronicled in this Oscar winning film The Last Emperor -- The story of the final Emperor of China.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Lone ...
Joan Chen ...
Peter O'Toole ...
Ruocheng Ying Ruocheng Ying ...
The Governor (as Ying Ruocheng)
Victor Wong ...
Dennis Dun Dennis Dun ...
Ryûichi Sakamoto ...
Maggie Han Maggie Han ...
Eastern Jewel
Ric Young ...
Interrogator
Vivian Wu ...
Wen Hsiu (as Wu Jun Mei)
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa ...
Chang (as Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa)
Jade Go Jade Go ...
Fumihiko Ikeda Fumihiko Ikeda ...
Richard Vuu Richard Vuu ...
Tsou Tijger Tsou Tijger ...
Pu Yi - 8 Years (as Tijger Tsou)
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Storyline

A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic. Written by Martin H. Booda <booda@datasync.com>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Emperor | China | Forbidden City | Abdication | Japanese  | See more »

Taglines:

He was the Lord of Ten Thousand Years, the absolute monarch of China. He was born to rule a world of ancient tradition. Nothing prepared him for our world of change.

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

China | Italy | UK | France

Language:

English | Mandarin | Japanese | Russian

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

L'ultimo imperatore See more »

Filming Locations:

Beijing Studios, Beijing, China See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

AUD 94,231 (Australia) (28 November 1987)

Gross:

$43,984,230 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | (television version)

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first western film made in and about the country to be produced with full Chinese government cooperation since 1949. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: In the Director's Cut of the film there is a scene, just before the Emperor Henry Pu-yi cuts his hair, in which the consorts are dancing to a song being played on a violin. While this scene takes place some time before 1924, the song is "Ol' Man River" from the musical "Showboat", first performed in 1927. See more »

Quotes

Pu Yi, at 15: Is it true, Mr. Johnston, that many people out there have had their heads cut off?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: It is true, your majesty. Many heads have been chopped off. It does stop them thinking.
See more »


Soundtracks

"Kaiser Walzer (Emperor Waltz) op. 437"
(1889)
Written by Johann Strauß (as Johann Strauss)
Performed by Berliner Philharmoniker (as The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
with kind permission of Polydor International GmbH See more »