Shogun [3 Discs] [Blu-ray]

Director: Jerry London

Overview

Based on the epic novel by James Clavell, Shogun originated as an epic five-part television miniseries, filmed on location in Japan. Richard Chamberlain stars as John Blackthorne, a 17th century British sea pilot in charge of a Dutch vessel. Shipwrecked off the coast of Japan, Blackthorne is in danger of being executed by the suspicious, reclusive Japanese hierarchy, but before long he has been accepted into the local culture. Accordingly, he begins to think of himself as Japanese, adopting the nation's customs and, while wearing the robes of a Samurai warrior, helping to defend the land against its enemies. The arrival of Blackthorne unfortunately arouses the interest of European empire-builders, who hope to add Japan to their holdings. Toshiro Mifune costars as Toranaga, a warlord who befriends Blackthorne, and Yoko Shimada appears as Mariko, the interpreter who eventually falls in love with the Englishman. When it first aired in September of 1980, Shogun caused eyebrows to raise with its seemingly reckless disregard of certain TV taboos: for example, one man is beheaded in full view of the audience, while another relieves himself on the body of an enemy. Most of the early dialogue sequence are in Japanese, which resulted in complaints from many monolingual viewers. As a result, the 1983 rebroadcast of Shogun included English narration by Orson Welles. The 125-minute feature version of Shogun, prepared for home video, includes English subtitles--as well as several originally excised scenes of nudity and excessive violence.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/22/2014
UPC:	0032429144980
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	NR
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	9:08:00
Sales rank:	4,704

Special Features

The making of Shogun, a 13-segment documentary (SD); Historical perspective featurettes (SD); Commentary by director Jerry London on select scenes (SD)

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

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.