Empire of the Sun (1987)

A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Tom Stoppard (screenplay), J.G. Ballard (novel)

Stars:

Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale	...	Jim
John Malkovich	...	Basie
Miranda Richardson	...	Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers	...	Dr. Rawlins
Joe Pantoliano	...	Frank Demarest
Leslie Phillips	...	Maxton
Masatô Ibu	...	Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richard	...	Mary Graham, Jim's mother
Rupert Frazer	...	John Graham, Jim's father
Peter Gale	...	Mr. Victor
Takatarô Kataoka	...	Kamikaze Boy Pilot (as Takatoro Kataoka)
Ben Stiller	...	Dainty
David Neidorf	...	Tiptree
Ralph Seymour	...	Cohen
Robert Stephens	...	Mr. Lockwood

Storyline

Based on J. G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, tells the story of a boy, James Graham, whose privileged life is upturned by the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, December 8, 1941. Separated from his parents, he is eventually captured, and taken to Soo Chow confinement camp, next to a captured Chinese airfield. Amidst the sickness and food shortages in the camp, Jim attempts to reconstruct his former life, all the while bringing spirit and dignity to those around him.

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Plot Keywords:

battle | murder | chase | explosion | student | 

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Taglines:

To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese Mandarin Shanghainese

Release Date:

25 December 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Empire of the Sun

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,314,509, 13 December 1987, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$22,238,696

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$66,700,000, 31 December 1987

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

153 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a BBC radio interview, Robert Stephens said that most of his part was deleted.

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Goofs

In one scene in the American barracks in the POW camp, one prisoner plays "I Left My Love" on the harmonica. The song is from The Horse Soldiers, and it was composed specifically for the film by Stan Jones, who had a cameo in it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: [title card] In 1941 China and Japan had been in a state of undeclared war for four years. A Japanese army of occupation was in control of much of the countryside and many towns and cities. In Shanghai thousands of Westerners, protected by the diplomatic security of the International Settlement, continued to live as they had lived since the British came here in the 19th century and built in the image of their own country... built banking houses, hotels, offices, churches and homes ...

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Connections

Referenced in Kicking and Screaming (1995)

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Soundtracks

SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Written by Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr
Performed by Al Bowlly / Mayfair Orchestra / Ronnie Munro

User Reviews

A lot of lost potential

I just saw this movie last night. It really ended up being quite disappointing despite a very good beginning. The scenes near the start of the film really do a good job of transmitting the ominous feeling of looming war. When the war broke out, I was feeling the kid's fear and confusion. I was thinking it was going to be a good war journey film, like the Pianist. Unlike the Pianist, this story just seemed to spread itself to thin. Throughout the movie the kid gives all sorts of philosophical ponderings, at one point he declares, "I have become an athiest." Statements such as these seem like they should have meaning, but I couldn't find it. It was like much of the dialog and actions of the characters was just put out there with no insight to what caused them to speak and act in such a way. It seemed as though this got worse through the film. By the the time the end came, it seemed as though each scene was meaningless and unconnected to the next. If the character's motivations and psychology were made more apparent through the dialog, this could have been an excellent movie. The film was technically good, but the lack of insight into the characters leaves only a meaningless bore.