Directed by:
Terence YoungCinematography:
Henri AlekanComposer:
Maurice JarreCast:
Charles Bronson, Ursula Andress, Toshirō Mifune, Alain Delon, Capucine, Anthony Dawson, Luc Merenda, Tetsu Nakamura, Mónica Randall, Georges Lycan (more)Plots(1)
Billed as the first East meets West Western, and directed by Terence Young, Red Sun is based on a true story from the American Wild West of 1870, when paths cross for an outlaw (Charles Bronson), a gunfighter (Alain Delon), a prostitute (Ursula Andress) and a Samurai warrior (Toshiro Mifune). Bronson plays Link, a train robber forced by the Japanese Ambassador to help regain a priceless sword stolen by Link’s double crossing partner Gauche (Delon). Accompanied by Kuroda (Mifune), the Ambassador’s bodyguard, he travels the West in pursuit, along the way stopping in a brothel to pick up Gauche’s girlfriend (Andress) as hostage. Kuroda plans to kill Gauche straight away with the sword itself, to redeem his honour, but Link needs him alive to find the loot from their last robbery. Joined uneasily together with a common goal they have only seven days to find Gauche or Kuroda must die by his own sword. (StudioCanal UK)
(more)Reviews (4)
A spectacular cast in an unconventional western. The quest for the emperor’s sword/stolen gold makes Mifune and Bronson involuntary partners in the hunt for the sleazy bad guy in the form of Alain Delon, and the sharp viewer can immediately tell where the makers of Once Upon a Time in the East got their ideas from. It’s true that the humor in this movie is more cynical, but the one-liners are all the better for it. For anyone who’s ever played Red Dead Redemption II, this is like putting on a pair of old, comfy shoes again. If I’m cooking dinner, you’ll go hungry and you'll hurt.
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Just imagine a movie that is much, much worse than Léon, and that’s pretty much what Red Sun is like. Quite an enjoyable relaxing western joyride. Apart from the music, no element of this is actually weak; on the other hand, nothing is particularly strong in this movie. An undemanding watch that is inoffensive, unexciting, but you certainly won’t regret the time spent watching it thanks mainly to the actors who managed to breathe a little magic into their rather one-dimensional roles. The combination of Mifune and Bronson turned out to be a good idea. I have a slight objection to the length, which could have easily been cut down a little with positive results.
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It’s ideal for those who like westerns but are tired of the classic themes and would like to see something unusual in the genre. And Red Sun certainly is unusual. The chatty (not too much, don't worry) Bronson moves through the desert with a scowling Mifune, tracking down the villain Delon. One for stolen loot and revenge, the other for a stolen sword and fulfilling the samurai code. Along with Young's direction, the excellent (not just action) cowboy + samurai scenes, the Japanese spiritual music and Jarre's music, this seemingly simple story makes for one of the most interesting westerns I've seen, and one that boasts of having something others don't: An idea.__P.S. Only Ursula Andress was annoying to the point of shame.__P.P.S.: The final scene with the Indians and the fight against them is flawless.
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A successful western where there are interesting enough characters to keep your attention. Charles Bronson is the right guy you want to trek through the deserts with, but it's only with Toshiro Mifune that it gains even more momentum. Alain Delon pulled off the laid-back rogue, and the female leads are simply stunning. Simple, but not bad.
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