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Paper Tiger (1975)

PG | | Adventure , Drama | 5 November 1975 (USA)
Paper Tiger Poster
A somewhat prim and proper Englishman is hired as the tutor to the son of the Japanese ambassador. His life changes when he and the boy are kidnapped by terrorists for political purposes.

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writer:

Jack Davies

Stars:

David Niven, Toshirô Mifune, Hardy Krüger | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. See more awards »

Photos

See all 9 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Niven ... 'Major' Walter Bradbury
Toshirô Mifune ... Ambassador Kagoyama
Hardy Krüger ... Müller
Ando Ando ... Koichi Kagoyama
Irene Tsu ... Talah
Ivan Desny ... Foreign Minister
Miiko Taka ... Mme. Kagoyama
Jeff Corey ... Mr. King
Patricia Donahue ... Mrs. King
Ronald Fraser ... Sergeant Forster
Jeannine Siniscal Jeannine Siniscal ... Foreign Minister's Girl
Kurt Christian Kurt Christian ... Harok
Mika Kitagawa Mika Kitagawa ... Ambassador's Secretary
Eric Soh Eric Soh ... Pathet
Salleh Ben Joned Salleh Ben Joned ... Sokono (as Salleh Joned)
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

A somewhat prim and proper Englishman is hired as the tutor to the son of the Japanese ambassador. His life changes when he and the boy are kidnapped by terrorists for political purposes.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

tutor | terrorist | japanese | kidnapping | tall tale | See All (9) »

Taglines:

They all saw him as a hero ... but could he live up to it?

Genres:

Adventure | Drama

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 1975 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Tigre de papel See more »

Filming Locations:

Bavaria, Germany See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euan Lloyd Productions,MacLean and Company See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Toshirô Mifune is dubbed by David de Keyser See more »

Goofs

When the Bedford 4-Ton truck is tipped over the cliff, the model that's initially pushed with a digger is the mid 1970's model previously driven into the scene, but the one that tumbles down the hill is a much older (late 1950's/early 1960's) model with different style of cab. See more »

Connections

References The Singing Fool (1928) See more »

Soundtracks

Main Theme
Music by Roy Budd and Jack Fishman (uncredited)
Sung by the Ray Conniff Singers
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
As simple as a paper animal, but as warm as any living one
27 January 2013 | by edmund-marlowe – See all my reviews

The story is admittedly very simple: elderly British "Major" Walter Bradbury (David Niven) is engaged by the Japanese ambassador to an unnamed Southeast Asian country, Kagoyama (Toshirô Mifune) as tutor to his enchanting 11-year-old son Koichi (Kazuhito Ando). "Mister Bladbelly" soon wins the reverence of the ever-trusting and perfectly-mannered Koichi by spinning yarns about his heroic wartime exploits that could hardly be further removed from his quiet nonentitous life, but is unexpectedly and severely put to the test when they are both kidnapped by guerrillas.

However simple though, the story is still a good one and it is fantastically well and charmingly acted by all three of the main characters. Anybody who has known a paper tiger, especially the more amiable types who, like Niven, have twinkles in their eyes gently hinting at their harmless fraud, will surely warm to his authentic depiction of one.

Paper Tiger is a gripping story, alternately funny, tense and moving, but above all it is a thoroughly warm-hearted and tenderly told tale of redemption.

Edmund Marlowe, author of Alexander's Choice, a novel of Eton, www.amazon.com/dp/1481222112
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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