Soleil rouge (1971)

In 1870, a gang robs a train and steals a ceremonial Japanese sword meant as a gift from Japan to the U.S. President, prompting a manhunt to retrieve it.

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Laird Koenig (story), Denne Bart Petitclerc (adaptation)

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Bronson	...	Link Stuart
Ursula Andress	...	Cristina
Toshirô Mifune	...	Kuroda Jubei (as Toshiro Mifune)
Alain Delon	...	Gotch 'Gauche' Kink
Capucine	...	Pepita
Barta Barri	...	Paco (as Bart Barry)
Guido Lollobrigida	...	Mace (as Lee Burton)
Anthony Dawson	...	Hyatt (as Tony Dawson)
Gianni Medici	...	Miguel (as John Hamilton)
Georges Lycan	...	Sheriff Stone (as George W. Lycan)
Luc Merenda	...	Chato (as Luke Merenda)
Tetsu Nakamura	...	Japanese Ambassador (as Satoshi Nakamura)
José Nieto	...	Murdered Mexican farmer (as Jo Nieto)
Julio Peña	...	Peppie (as Jules Pena)
Mónica Randall	...	Maria (as Monica Randall)

Storyline

The Japanese ambassador is traveling through the Wild West by train, when gangsters hold up the train, to rob a gold shipment. They also carry an ancient Japanese sword the ambassador was carrying as a present for the US president. The ambassador's bodyguard (Toshiro Mifune) will go after them, with the aid of one of the gang's leaders betrayed by his pals...

---

Plot Keywords:

battle | blood | arizona territory | new mexico territory | horseback riding | 

---

Taglines:

2 Desperados ... 1 Hellcat ... and a Samurai ... the greatest fighting force the West has ever known!

---

Genres:

Action | Western

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France Italy Spain

Language:

English Spanish Japanese

Release Date:

9 June 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Red Sun

Filming Locations:

Adra, Almería, Spain

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,840,000, 31 December 1972

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Corona, Oceania Produzioni Internazionali Cinematografiche, Producciones Balcázar S.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor and Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ursula Andress loved the Andalusian Stallion she rode in the movie. She also fell in love with the area and bought a Spanish villa during the shoot.

---

Goofs

Equipment visible at 43:43 in lower left hand corner.

---

Quotes

Kuroda Jubie: Give me my clothes!
Link Stuart: I'll give you your clothes, but first I want your word of honor that you won't kill Gauche on sight.
Kuroda Jubie: My clothes!
Link Stuart: Your word.
Kuroda Jubie: [angrily speaks Japanese]
Link Stuart: Don't know what the hell that's all about, but it sounds like it's comin' from the heart. Well?
Kuroda Jubie: Give me five minutes with him.
Link Stuart: Not enough.
Kuroda Jubie: One hour. Give me one full hour.
Link Stuart: I need one full day. Kuroda, I need the time to make Gauche take me to the cash. I wanna be sure it's there.
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in Shanghai Noon (2000)

User Reviews

Marvelous cultural juxtaposition of western salty hero and samurai knight archetypes

Culture clash ending in mutual respect, with an understanding of BOTH cultures... good western action-adventure at the same time. Battle of wills and skills as Bronson butts heads with Mifune, who of course has all kinds of surprises Bronson's character has never seen. They are forced by circumstance to collaborate and travel together. Bronson the epitome of western tough and smart guy, in this case whose ethics are not always ivory soap; Mifune plays the epitome of determined, skilled, smart, ethical samurai knight type. Very funny watching them struggle with each other, surprise each other, and learn from each other... and deal with bordello, desert, etc. They have to retrieve the treasured sword and in the process chase down and fight a truly nasty slick cold fish. You'll end up liking Bronson and loving Mifune. Both actors did a wonderful classic job with this one!