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Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo

Original title: Rupan sansei
  • 19781978
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Rupan sansei (1978)
Home Video Trailer from Pioneer Entertainment
Play trailer1:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Animation
  • Action
  • Adventure

While attempting to win the affections of a beautiful rival, a master thief risks death to learn the secret intentions of a wealthy and seemingly immortal, but certainly ruthless, recluse.While attempting to win the affections of a beautiful rival, a master thief risks death to learn the secret intentions of a wealthy and seemingly immortal, but certainly ruthless, recluse.While attempting to win the affections of a beautiful rival, a master thief risks death to learn the secret intentions of a wealthy and seemingly immortal, but certainly ruthless, recluse.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Sôji Yoshikawa
    • Yasuo Ôtsuka(supervising director)
  • Writers
    • Monkey Punch(comic)
    • Atsushi Yamatoya(scripts)
    • Sôji Yoshikawa(scripts)
  • Stars
    • Yasuo Yamada(voice)
    • Eiko Masuyama(voice)
    • Kiyoshi Kobayashi(voice)
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Sôji Yoshikawa
    • Yasuo Ôtsuka(supervising director)
  • Writers
    • Monkey Punch(comic)
    • Atsushi Yamatoya(scripts)
    • Sôji Yoshikawa(scripts)
  • Stars
    • Yasuo Yamada(voice)
    • Eiko Masuyama(voice)
    • Kiyoshi Kobayashi(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Lupin the 3rd, The Movie: Secret of Mamo
    Trailer 1:31
    Lupin the 3rd, The Movie: Secret of Mamo

    Photos139

    Kiyoshi Kobayashi and Yasuo Yamada in Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Eiko Masuyama and Yasuo Yamada in Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)
    Rupan sansei (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Yasuo Yamada
    Yasuo Yamada
    • Arsène Lupin IIIas Arsène Lupin III
    • (voice)
    Eiko Masuyama
    Eiko Masuyama
    • Fujiko Mineas Fujiko Mine
    • (voice)
    Kiyoshi Kobayashi
    Kiyoshi Kobayashi
    • Daisuke Jigenas Daisuke Jigen
    • (voice)
    Makio Inoue
    Makio Inoue
    • Goemon Ishikawa XIIIas Goemon Ishikawa XIII
    • (voice)
    Gorô Naya
    Gorô Naya
    • Inspector Heiji Zenigata VIIas Inspector Heiji Zenigata VII
    • (voice)
    Tôru Ôhira
    • Stuckeyas Stuckey
    • (voice)
    Kôsei Tomita
    • Commissioneras Commissioner
    • (voice)
    Hidekatsu Shibata
    • Special Agent Gordonas Special Agent Gordon
    • (voice)
    Shôzô Îzuka
    • Flinchas Flinch
    • (voice)
    Ichirô Murakoshi
    • Scientistas Scientist
    • (voice)
    Shunsuke Shima
    • Dietmanas Dietman
    • (voice)
    Yûji Mikimoto
    • Police Officeras Police Officer
    • (voice)
    • (as Masaru Miyashita)
    Kô Nishimura
    Kô Nishimura
    • Mamoas Mamo
    • (voice)
    Haruo Minami
    • Chief Police Officer of Egypt (Special Guest)as Chief Police Officer of Egypt (Special Guest)
    • (voice)
    Fujio Akatsuka
    • President (Special Guest)as President (Special Guest)
    • (voice)
    Ikki Kajiwara
    • Chief Secretary to President (Special Guest)as Chief Secretary to President (Special Guest)
    • (voice)
    Bob Bergen
    Bob Bergen
    • Lupin (1995 Streamline dub)as Lupin (1995 Streamline dub)
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    David Povall
    David Povall
    • Zenigata (1995 Streamline dub)as Zenigata (1995 Streamline dub)
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • Directors
      • Sôji Yoshikawa
      • Yasuo Ôtsuka(supervising director)
    • Writers
      • Monkey Punch(comic)
      • Atsushi Yamatoya(scripts)
      • Sôji Yoshikawa(scripts)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In Transylvania, Lupin III, the notorious international thief, is hung and no one is more suprised to learn of that than Lupin III himself, who was alive and well and nowhere near that area at that time. The answer to that mystery, begins to surface when Lupin gets a seemingly ordinary pebble from an Egyptian pyramid for his would-be girlfriend, Fujiko, the mercenary thief, who is in the employ of a mysterious figure known only as Mamo. Intrigued by this bizarre request, Lupin decides to get involved and finds himself in an international chase that has a greater scope and danger than he has ever faced. —Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@execulink.com>
    • flirting
    • nudity
    • female nudity
    • faked death
    • based on manga
    • 48 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Sometimes, being able to put together a world-class art collection takes a thief... this time it takes an extraordinary thief!
    • Genres
      • Animation
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Fantasy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • PG-13
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Lupin III creator Monkey Punch's favorite film in the series. Following his passing, Nippon Television aired the film on Friday, April 19 2019 at 9:00 p.m., which concluded with a dedication to his memory.
    • Goofs
      When Lupin tells Goemon and Jigen that they should travel towards the ocean, his lips don't move at all, despite his face being clearly visible throughout. This error was repeated in the Toho and Manga dubs, but was corrected for the Streamline and Geneon dubs - Lupin does not say anything in the Streamline dub, while a related line is given to Goemon in the Geneon dub.
    • Quotes

      Mamo: Obviously, eternal life would be wasted on a vulgarian like that man there.

      Arsene Lupin III: That's not true. I eat meat!

    • Crazy credits
      In the closing credits, in a corner of the screen Lupin and Zenigata run from the missile barrage; this scene is intercut with previous scenes from the film.
    • Alternate versions
      The masters for this film provided by TMS for Pioneer Entertainment to release on US DVD in 2003 were edited to remove certain product logos, such as real-world cigarette brands. The earlier VHS release by Streamline Pictures in 1995 did not have such alterations.
      • Among the deleted items for the Pioneer DVD release include a shot of Stuckey, the US government representative, reading a "Lupin" comic book, with an ad that shows Lupin with DC Comics characters Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batmanm and Robin. The ad itself was a real 1978 "Clark Bar" promotion ad that ran in DC and Marvel comics of the time, but the film's producers pasted Lupin onto it.
    • Connections
      Edited into Cliff Hanger (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Rupan Ondo
      (1978)

      Music by Yuji Ohno

      Lyrics by Monkey Punch

      Lyrical complement by Daizaburô Nakayama

      Performed by Haruo Minami

      Arranged by Yuji Ohno

      Published by Teichiku Records

      (Heard only in the original Japanese version, as well as the 1995 Streamline and 1996 Manga UK English versions)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    The first Lupin film is weird, but fun.
    The Mystery of Mamo is the first movie in the Lupin the 3rd series. It's been a critically polarizing film ever since it's release in 1978. So, is this theatrical debut worth the time? Well, let's find out.

    The film starts with the master thief, Lupin the 3rd, seemingly being executed. However, the police inspector Zenigata doesn't believe he's really dead. His assumption turns out to be true as Lupin steals the fabled Philosopher's Stone in Egypt.

    The Philosopher's Stone is then stolen from him by his on-off lover, Fujiko Mine and she brings it to her mysterious benefactor, Mamo. But when they find out that the stone is fake, Mamo is determined to track down Lupin and his colleagues, the expert gunman Daisuke Jigen, and the warrior priest, Goemon Ishikawa XIII. But it becomes a three-way free for all with Inspector Zenigata determined to have them all arrested.

    So what did I like about this movie? Well, the animation and the action is very creative and well executed. It blends in with the story and characters very well. Speaking of, the chemistry between the characters is probably the best part about this film. The villain, Mamo, probably has the most intimidating voice I've ever heard, regardless of whether you watch the dubbed or subbed version. And it's even better when you see what Mamo looks like.

    So what didn't I like? Well, the third act was a little clunky. While the animation still made it visually pleasing, the plot seemed to spiral out of control and became a little too weird for me. Though I can't say much more without spoiling it. And I never thought I'd say this, but I didn't like the nudity. I just thought it was out of place with the rest of the film.

    So, in the long run, The Mystery of Mamo is a flawed, but extremely well made Lupin film. If you're a fan of the manga, then this will probably be one of your favorite movies in the series. It's fun, it's weird, it truly is Lupin the 3rd
    helpful•2
    1
    • musukogoji
    • Oct 12, 2016

    FAQ24

    • Why does Mamo think Fujiko, a woman who has at times been morally worse than Lupin, deserves immortality?
    • Who put the boxers back on Lupin when Flinch collected him?
    • How is it that Fujiko gets her nipples shown on screen but Lupin doesn't?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 1978 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Geneon Entertainment (United States)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Lupin III
    • Production company
      • TMS Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ¥500,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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