The Bushido Blade ** (1981, Richard Boone, Toshirô Mifune, Frank Converse, Mike Starr) – Classic Movie Review 9498

‘BUSHIDO means revenge – BUSHIDO means bloodshed – BUSHIDO means violent death!’

Director Tsugunobu [Tom] Kotani’s 19th-century-set Kung Fu action thriller The Bushido Blade [The Bloody Bushido Blade](1981) stars Richard Boone as Commodore Matthew Perry, who leads his merry band of American sailors to the rescue when a symbolic samurai sword, a gift to the US from the Japanese Emperor, is stolen.

It was presented by the Shogun’s Commander (Toshiro Mifune) and its theft endangers an 1854 pact between the Americans and the Japanese.

The Bushido Blade is a violent, fairly interesting action thriller, with a good story, intriguing historical backgrounds, and a couple of excellent stars giving lively turns.

It is Boone’s last film; Mifune repeated his role in the Shogun TV mini-series as Lord Yoshi Toranaga.

It was made in 1978 but not released till 1981 after the release of Shogun.

It was first shown in US on 10 November 1981 in a 92-minute version as an HBO premiere on cable TV before a theatrical release in the US on 29 January 1982 of the complete 104-minute version, sometimes with the alternative title The Bloody Bushido Blade.

It was released in the UK as The Bushido Blade.

Also in the cast are Frank Converse, Laura Gemser, James Earl Jones, Mako, Sonny Chiba, Mike Starr,Mayumi Atano and Tetsuro Tamba.

The Bushido Blade [The Bloody Bushido Blade] is directed by Tsugunobu Kotani [Tom Kotani], runs 104 minutes (89 minutes TV premiere), is made by Rankin-Bass Productions and Trident Films, is released by Aquarius Releasing (1981) (US), is written by William Overgard, is shot by Shaji Uedo, is produced by Arthur Rankin Jr and is scored by Maury Laws.

Maury Laws, Rankin-Bass productions composer-arranger, died at 95 on March 28 2019.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9498

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