Shogun Mayeda
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Shogun Mayeda |
| Original title | Kabuto |
| Country of production | Japan , USA , UK |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1992 |
| length | 107 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Gordon Hessler |
| script |
Shō Kosugi Nelson Gidding |
| production | Shō Kosugi |
| music | John Scott |
| camera | John J. Connor |
| cut | Bill Butler |
| occupation | |
| |
Shogun Mayeda (alternative title: Shogun Mayeda - The Adventures of the Samurai , TV title: Kabuto ) is a film from 1990/1991 that was originally produced for television and was subsequently released in a new cut in 1992.
action
The film begins with the Battle of Sekigahara , in which the allies of Toyotomi Hideyori, the heir of Toyotomi Hideyoshi , initially show themselves to be superior, as they mostly use firearms ( arquebuses ). When it suddenly starts to rain, the fuses of the arquebuses go out and the weapons become unusable. The samurai Mayeda recognizes his chance and leads the warriors of Tokugawa Ieyasu to victory. Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes a Shogun and can unite the country under his rule. An epoch that lasted more than 200 years begins.
In the period of peace after the battle, Mayeda rises to coach Tokugawa Ieyasu's son, Yorimune. When he was attacked by former soldiers of Toyotomi Hideyoshi . die Mayeda's wife and son, who doubles Yorimune.
The Shogun then sends his son and Mayeda to Spain on a ship to buy 5,000 modern firearms. They are accompanied by Father Vasco and some servants. However, Father Vasco makes a pact with the enemy, as Tokugawa Ieyasu does not want to let missionaries into the country and forbids the building of churches. The opponent in the form of a woman (yodogimi) promises Vasco exactly these concessions.
On board the ship, treacherous samurai attack Mayeda and Yorimune during a storm, but they can be defeated. In the storm, however, the box of gold with which the weapons should be paid for goes overboard. Mayeda saves the life of the ship's captain, Crawford, while fighting. He later learns that Crawford has also lost a wife and daughter and is now seeking solace in alcohol.
Arrived in Spain, Mayeda and Yorimune have to prove themselves at the king's court, since apart from gifts (cloth and a sword) they have no means of shopping. The king has his guests show his guests the latest firearms with flintlocks, which are not susceptible to rain. A first rapid-fire rifle , the el rapido , is also demonstrated. In a subsequent attack, Mayeda saves the king's life and kills the bandits.
Mayeda notices a lady named Cecilia at court and he discovers that she is the daughter of Captain Crawford, believed to be dead. Cecilia's fiancé, Don Pedro, displeases the way Mayeda looks at Cecilia and provokes him. Mayeda is able to disarm Don Pedro and manages to keep Don Pedro from losing face.
Again the King of Mayeda is impressed and gives them the 5000 firearms and an el rapido . Father Vasco absolutely wants to prevent the delivery and allies himself with the Sultan of Morocco. With the help of a pirate galley, he intercepts the ship with the guns and gets Mayeda, Yorimune, Captain Crawford and also Cecilia, who smuggled on board to avoid the wedding with Don Pedro, under his control.
Mayeda, Yorimune and Crawford are enslaved and Cecilia is sold to Don Pedro. The latter comes to the Sultan's court and is asked to play a game of chess. The price is the first night with Cecilia. As the game comes to an end, Yorimune suddenly appears and knocks over the chessboard. While the Sultan confronts him, Don Pedro takes up his sword. Mayeda shows up at the last second and is able to fend off Don Pedro's attack. The Sultan is impressed and decides to let Don Pedro and Mayeda fight each other for life and death the next day. He promises Mayeda safe passage for himself and his people as well as the weapons in the event of victory. The night before the fight, Cecilia Mayeda confesses her love.
In a duel, Don Pedro uses a poisoned parrying dagger, which tarnishes the consciousness but does not kill. Mayeda defeats Don Pedro anyway and kills him when he tries to shoot Mayeda with a camouflaged weapon. During the fight, the crew and Yorimune bring the weapons back to the ship, as they do not trust the sultan's promise. After the battle, the sultan doesn't want to hear anything about his promise and wants to make Mayeda his general. This refuses and insults the sultan as dishonorable. Mayeda is arrested and taken to the fortress, but is able to free herself on the way and rushes to the port. Father Vasco and some monks attacked the sailors there and seriously injured Captain Crawford, among others. Mayeda can defeat the monks, but Father Vasco is killed by Cecilia. The Sultan appears with his men, but is threatened by Yorimune and the el rapido . When Mayeda asks Yorimune not to shoot, since he has given his word and has never used his weapons outside of Japan, the Sultan is deeply impressed and lets them go, proclaiming that he has learned "the essence of honor" from Mayeda.
Captain Crawford surrenders his captaincy to his cabin boy and cannot sail with him to Japan. Yorimune then decides to sail to England first to bring Crawford and Cecilia to safety, and then to return to Japan. Mayeda promises Cecilia his return.
Remarks
The film generally failed both critics and audiences. The bad script would be compensated for with a seemingly high number of stars.
criticism
“The attempt to build bridges between cultures fails in the film on all levels. Costume parades that can hardly withstand historical observation, dramas of jealousy and a sea battle with pirates complete the clothes, which only achieve a certain strength in the calm images of the Japanese court scene. "
Web links
- Shogun Mayeda in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Shogun Mayeda. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .