James Clavell's Shogun [5 Discs]

Director: Jerry London

Overview

"Shogun is widely regarded as one of the best miniseries in the history of the form. The entire nine-hour endeavor is presented on this five-disc set. The show is presented in its original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1. English soundtracks are rendered

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2003
UPC:	0097361549842
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	NR
Source:	Paramount
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	9:07:00
Sales rank:	1,142

Special Features

Closed Caption;13-segment documentary on the making of Shogun; Historical featurettes: "The Samurai," "The Tea Ceremony," "The Geisha"; Full-screen format; Dolby Digital English 5.1 surround; Dolby Digital English restored mono; English subtitles; Audio commentary by director Jerry London on select scenes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Richard Chamberlain	Pilot-Major John Blackthorne/Anjin-san
Toshiro Mifune	Lord Toranaga
Yoko Shimada	Lady Toda Buntaro-Mariko
Frankie Sakai	Lord Yabu
Alan Badel	Father Dell'Aqua
Damien Thomas	Father Alvito
Michael Hordern	Friar Domingo
Vladek Sheybal	Capt. Ferriera
Yuki Megoro	Omi
Lord Ishido	Nobo Kaneko
George Innes	Vinck
Leon Lissek	Father Sebastio
John Rhys-Davies	Vasco Rodrigues
Masumi Okada	Brother Michael
Takeshi Ohbayashi	Urano
Orson Welles	Narrator

Technical Credits

Scene Index

Side #1 -- Part 1
1. The Raging Sea [3:19]
2. The Japans [5:37]
3. All but One [7:28]
4. Anjin-San [5:06]
5. Adapting [7:29]
6. Typhoon [6:10]
7. Establish Trust [7:37]
8. Osaka [7:13]
9. Toranaga's Inquiry [:51]
10. Imprisoned [7:49]
11. Taken [7:45]
Side #2 -- Part 2
1. Lord Toranga [10:47]
2. Plot to Kill [8:32]
3. Sailor's Dance [5:42]
4. Deterrant [7:29]
5. Battle [9:09]
6. Negotiations at Sea [10:54]
7. Return to Anjiro [8:29]
8. Reborn [3:12]
9. Learning Japanese [8:41]
10. New Customs [6:24]
Side #3 -- Part 3
1. Unexpected Guest [7:34]
2. Punishment [5:08]
3. Earthquake [3:01]
4. Samurai [7:23]
5. Special Gift [2:37]
6. Mariko's Dilemma [7:25]
7. Broken Allegiance [2:43]
8. Tide Changes [7:27]
9. Crossing the First Bridge [3:12]
10. Standing on Their Own [7:45]
11. Toranaga's Wisdom [5:46]
Side #4 -- Part 4
1. Until Osaka [6:41]
2. Confessions [7:13]
3. Unexpected Karma [:17]
4. Birthday Celebration [7:13]
5. For Honor [4:17]
6. Night Ambush [2:58]
7. Funeral [7:03]
8. Spanish Inquisition [2:14]
9. Erasmus Burned [4:43]
10. Toranaga Shogun [6:57]
Side #5 -- Special Features
1. Play All [4:59]
2. A Novel Adventure [6:49]
3. The Cast [2:41]
4. Nagashima [8:17]
5. Toho Studios [3:10]
6. Cultures Collide [5:31]
7. The Art of Shogun [10:13]
8. The Erasmus and the Galley [3:15]
9. Controversy [8:12]
10. The Earthquake [4:12]
11. Escape from Osaka Castle [5:30]
12. The Blockade [2:12]
13. Post Production [4:09]
14. Shogun Makes History [4:08]

Menu

Side #1 -- Part 1
Play
Setup
Audio Options: English 5.1 Surround
Audio Options: English Restored Mono
Subtitle Options: English
Subtitle Options: None
Scene Selection
Side #2 -- Part 2
Play
Setup
Audio Options: English 5.1 Surround
Audio Options: English Restored Mono
Subtitle Options: English
Subtitle Options: None
Scene Selection
Side #3 -- Part 3
Play
Setup
Audio Options: English 5.1 Surround
Audio Options: English Restored Mono
Subtitle Options: English
Subtitle Options: None
Scene Selection
Side #4 -- Part 4
Play
Setup
Audio Options: English 5.1 Surround
Audio Options: English Restored Mono
Subtitle Options: English
Subtitle Options: None
Scene Selection
Side #5 -- Special Features
Previews
Main Menu
The Making of Shogun
Historical Perspective Featurettes
The Samurai
The Tea Ceremony
The Geisha
Commentary by Director Jerry London on Select Scenes
Blackthorne's Arrival at the Castle
Blackthorne at Ochiba's Party
The Crazy Dance
Lord Buntaro Shoots Arrows
Blasting of the Fishing Boats
The Arrival of Toranaga
Blackthorne Rebuilds His Ship
Indiana Jones Preview Trailer
Setup
Subtitle Options: English
Subtitle Options: None

Editorial Reviews

One of the best TV miniseries ever made, the 1980 Shogun is an extraordinarily faithful adaptation of James Clavell's epic historical novel about political and social turmoil in 16th-century Japan. Originally broadcast over nine hours, this opulently produced drama captured not only the spirit of the story but the letter as well, incorporating most of Clavell's supporting characters and subplots. It vividly replicates the look of feudal Japan while illustrating the clash of cultures that resulted in the penetration of Japanese society by Western outsiders. Richard Chamberlain, whose inspired work in this film made him the undisputed king of the miniseries, plays John Blackthorne, the English seaman (sailing on a Dutch vessel) and trader who becomes the unexpected pawn in a power struggle between Lords Toranaga (Toshiro Mifune) and Ishido (Noburo Kaneko), both vying for the position of shogun, undisputed ruler of the territory. Toranaga cannily uses Blackthorne to strengthen his position, and over a period of time the two men learn to respect each other's cultures and beliefs. The Dutchman also engages in a passionate and ultimately tragic relationship with a married woman, Mariko (Yoko Shimada), and matches wits with a wily Portuguese, Vasco Rodrigues (John Rhys-Davies). Director Jerry London exhibits unusual fealty to Clavell's work, possibly because the author himself served as executive producer. The novel's complex interrelationships and political intrigues reach the screen intact, and while Shogun is long and occasionally slow moving, it retains the book's atmosphere, so much so that you'll find yourself mesmerized by its depiction of a totally foreign culture. Previously released to video in a horribly mutilated two-hour version, Shogun is finally being issued on DVD in its entirety -- a long-overdue tribute to this hugely successful and much-beloved television classic.