Red Sun
"The greatest fighting machine the West has ever known."
In 1870, Japanese ambassador Sakaguchi and his entourage travel by train to Washington to deliver a valuable sword to the President of the United States, a gift from the Emperor of Japan. On board the same train are two robbers, Link and Gauche, ready to make their move…
Curator's Take
“East meets West in this wild mashup that predates 'Shanghai Noon' by thirty years. Charles Bronson and Toshiro Mifune have incredible chemistry as the reluctant partners, one a gruff outlaw, the other a disciplined samurai. It’s pulp fiction at its finest: exciting, slightly ridiculous, and undeniably cool. The clash of katanas and colts is a gimmick, sure, but it's a gimmick that works.”
Why This Movie Is Important
An audacious and highly entertaining genre mash-up that proves the flexibility of the western format. By pairing a samurai (Toshiro Mifune) with a cowboy (Charles Bronson), it acknowledged the deep cinematic link between the two genres. It’s a fun, stars-driven spectacle that represents the global reach of the Spaghetti Western in the 70s, moving beyond Italian borders to become a truly international phenomenon.
Production Details
Red Sun is a 1971 western film directed by Terence Young. Originally released in Italy under the title "Soleil Rouge", the film was produced during the golden era of European westerns. The soundtrack was composed by Maurice Jarre. Cinematography was handled by Henri Alekan. The screenplay was written by Lawrence Roman. The film stars Charles Bronson as Link, Ursula Andress as Cristina, and Toshirō Mifune as Kuroda Jubei. Running 1 hour and 54 minutes, it is a well-paced entry in the genre. It holds a solid average rating of 6.9 from 294 ratings.
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Did You Know?
This was the first film to feature the 'East meets West' plot device of a Samurai in the Wild West.
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