The Master 

An aging American ninja master and his headstrong young apprentice search for the elder man's daughter.

Creator:

Michael Sloan

Stars:

Lee Van Cleef, Timothy Van Patten, Shô Kosugi

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Lee Van Cleef	...	John Peter McAllister / ... 13 episodes, 1984
Timothy Van Patten	...	Max Keller 13 episodes, 1984
Shô Kosugi	...	Okasa 13 episodes, 1984

Storyline

John Peter Macallister was a Korean veteran who, after serving, decided to live in Japan, and, while there, he studied Ninjitsu and became a Ninja. Thirty years later, he learned that he has a daughter, so left to find her. Apparently, though, he can't leave the sect that he is with, because it means that he is now marked for death. He manages to escape, and, upon arriving in the States, he meets Max Keller, a drifter who has a penchant for getting involved with other people's problems and helping them out if he can. Max and Macallister hook up, with Max helping Macallister find his daughter, and Macallister teaching him the ways of the ninja. At the same time, evading Okasa, one of Macallister's students, who is now sworn to kill him.

---

Plot Keywords:

ninja | ninjitsu | cult tv | chop socky | television flop | 

---

Taglines:

The Master Is Here! He's the supreme warrior. Even his eyes can kill you. His student is the supreme heartthrob. His eyes can melt you

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Action

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

A lot of the shows episodes were filmed in 1983 and the show released in Winter 1984 as a mid-season replacement by NBC.

---

Goofs

The roof of the bar begins to collapse before the Master kicks it.

---

Quotes

Truck Driver: I thought you died on me. You haven't moved for an hour.
John Peter McAllister: A warrior in 16th-century Japan sat under an icy waterfall... with his arms above his head like this,
[raises his arms above his head]
John Peter McAllister: without moving, for 86 hours.
Truck Driver: Why'd he do that?
John Peter McAllister: I can't imagine.
Truck Driver: Yeah, well I say you didn't move at all.
John Peter McAllister: Slow heartbeat. Close the door on the senses... and listen to the silence.
Truck Driver: You must be a lot of laughs at a party.

---

Alternate Versions

2 episodes of the series were combined into a feature-length video release titled "Master Ninja I". An additional feature-length video combining two episodes was released under the title "Master Ninja II".

---

Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: 42nd Street Forever, Volume 2: The Deuce (2013)

User Reviews

cheesy but not too bad (and it has Sho Kosugi!)

I remember this series quite well. Back in the 80s when the US underwent a "ninja" phase, this came out. Lee Van Cleef is an American trained as a ninja who decides to leave "the family". Sho Kosugi (a real life kick butt martial artist) goes after him. Cleef comes to America and meets up with Tim Van Patten who joins up as his apprentice, hence, the title. It's kind of cheesy, but not as bad as it could have been. A lot of the "wandering do-gooders" a la "The Incredible Hulk" and "Scooby Doo". I remember watching this on Friday nights and enjoying the heck out of it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Master Ninja

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Sloan Productions, Viacom Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (13 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1