The Bushido Blade

The Bushido Blade
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTom Kotani
Screenplay byWilliam Overgard
Produced byArthur Rankin Jr.
StarringRichard Boone
Sonny Chiba
Frank Converse
Laura Gemser
James Earl Jones
Mako
Timothy Murphy
Michael Starr
Tetsurō Tamba
Toshiro Mifune
CinematographyShōji Ueda
Edited byYoshitami Kuroiwa
Music byMaury Laws
Production
companies
Distributed byAquarius Releasing
Release date
  • 1981 (1981)
Running time
104 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
Japan
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese
Budget$5 million[1]

The Bushido Blade is a 1981 film directed by Tom Kotani. Sonny Chiba, Toshiro Mifune, Mako, Laura Gemser, James Earl Jones and Richard Boone in his last film appearance[2] appear in this film. It was filmed in 1978, but not released until 1981.

Plot

The Bushido Blade is a fictional sideline to the true events surrounding the treaty Commodore Matthew Perry signed with the shogun of feudal Japan. The samurai sword entrusted to Commodore Perry for President Franklin Pierce of the United States by the Emperor of Japan is stolen by factions wishing to maintain Japanese isolationism. The sword is stolen by Baron Zen, who is a servant of Lord Yamato, who opposes the Convention of Kanagawa about to be signed.

Commodore Akira Hayashi is told to recover the sword and, as a matter of honor, not sign the treaty until it is recovered. Prince Ido has received Hayashi's order to regain the sword and goes to the castle of Yamato alone. Similarly, Perry has ordered Captain Lawrence Hawk to retrieve the sword. Hawk brings Midshipman Robin Gurr and Crew Bos'n Cave Johnson. The three get separated and the movie centers on their stories.

Cast

Principal actors
Supporting roles

Crew

See also

References

  1. ^ "New York Sound Track". Variety. April 12, 1978. p. 27.
  2. ^ "Richard Boone". MISJA.com.