Six-String Samurai (1998)

In the post-apocalyptic world of 1960s Nevada, a rock 'n' roll samurai takes a young boy under his protection.

Director:

Lance Mungia

Writers:

Jeffrey Falcon, Lance Mungia

Stars:

Jeffrey Falcon, Justin McGuire, Kim De Angelo

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeffrey Falcon	...	Buddy
Justin McGuire	...	The Kid
Kim De Angelo	...	Mother
Stephane Gauger	...	Death
Clifford Hugo	...	Psycho
Oleg Bernov	...	Red Elvis
Igor Yuzov	...	Red Elvis
Zhenya Kolykhanov	...	Red Elvis
George L. Casillas	...	Mariachi / Campfire Cast: Archer (#64)
Avi Sills	...	Red Elvis
Monti Ellison	...	Head Pin Pal
Kareem	...	Bowler #2 / Campfire Cast: Other Actor (#76)
Richard McGuire	...	Cantina owner
Zuma Jay	...	Car Guy
Paul Szopa	...	Bowler #3 / Campfire Cast: Other Actor (#77)

Storyline

A mysterious and powerful hero of the classic kind, Buddy is as skilled with his guitar as he is with his samurai sword. Thrown together with a kid whom he saves in a spectacular battle, the two of them must now escape their enemies and reach "Lost Vegas," the rock 'n' roll capital of this future world.

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Plot Keywords:

rock 'n' roll | sword | guitar | boy | orphan | 

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Taglines:

All Superheroes Wear Glasses...

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Music | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for martial arts and swordfight violence

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Library Palm Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blade

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$36,896 (USA) (18 September 1998)

Gross:

$124,494 (USA) (22 January 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

HSX Films, Overseas FilmGroup, Palm Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The squashed "de-anamorphic" effect on the opening title sequence is an homage to years of VHS fullscreen movies that had their widescreen titles similarly squashed. Many projectionists have mistakenly swapped out their lenses in the middle of this sequence. Ironically, the video version of the movie is letterboxed (although the cable broadcast version was not).

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Goofs

The guitar being used by Buddy throughout the film is referred to as a "1957 Six String Hollowbody". The guitar is actually a 1965-1966 Martin GT Series Hollowbody guitar.

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Quotes

Buddy: Who are you?
Death: Death,
Buddy: Cool!

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Crazy Credits

One of the "Red Elivises", Zhenya Kolykhanov, is miscredited as Zhenga Kolykhanov

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Connections

Spoofs A Clockwork Orange (1971)

User Reviews

Two-fisted, end of the world, rock'n'roll high camp

Yes, this film does have it's faults. Most low budget films do. But the overall theme of this work is a multi-layered spoof of many genres. The Hong Kong fantasy samurai film, end-of-the-world pictures, rock and roll musicals, and the obsession with Las Vegas.

I had the fortune to see this film at a multiplex in Las Vegas, and was not disappointed. Buddy is a bad-ass rock'n'roller with a katana hidden in his guitar with his sights set on being the next king of Las Vegas. "The Kid" is annoying and has a ear-splitting shriek (Why wouldn't he? No playmates, no cartoons, just empty land and not a Gymboree or video arcade in sight!), and the various bad guys (loved the evil bald bowlers) come in just about every shape and size.

Elements of "Wizard of Oz", "El Topo", "Mad Max", Sam Peckenpah, and God knows how many Kung Fu/Samurai films are in this, seasoned with a handful of self-conscious humor.

Living in the Las Vegas area, I'm familiar with most of the scenes featured (The bombed out gas station is the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada), so it was a kick seeing some of those places in a film.

It isn't for everyone, and some will dislike it, mostly for it's campiness, but this is a film that doesn't take itself too seriously...and neither should you.