Red Sun (1971) – Film Review

Director: Terence Young
Cast: Charles Bronson, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon
Certificate: 15

By Sarah Morgan

Alain Delon, one of France’s most iconic actors, and a man whose beauty turned him into an international figure, recently passed away at the age of 88.

He made his mark in the 1960s with the likes of The Leopard, Le Samurai and La Piscine, and graced many movies outside his native France too, including the spaghetti western Red Sun which, purely by coincidence, I sat down to watch on the day his death was announced.

The 1971 release is being made available via a swanky Blu-ray edition, in which we can all see Delon’s stunning looks in greater detail than ever; his face is certainly a stark contrast to that of his co-star, the far craggier Charles Bronson.

“Ceremonial sword”

However, it’s Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune who steals the show from them both as Kuroda Jubei, the samurai bodyguard of the Japanese ambassador to the US. While en route to Washington DC, his train is ambushed by bandits Link (Bronson) and Gauche (Delon). They’re initially targeting the $400,000 booty on board, but Gauche, who double-crosses Link and leaves him for dead, also steals a ceremonial sword meant as a gift for the US President.

After Link recovers from his injuries, he reluctantly joins forces with Kuroda to hunt down Gauche so that both men can take their revenge. There are cultural clashes throughout, with neither of them fully understanding the other’s ways, but each earning a grudging respect from the other.

The sight of Mifune standing in the desert (the film was shot in Spain, with the Andalusian landscape doubling for the American West) in full ceremonial robes is something to behold. Although he apparently struggled with the dialogue (the film provided both the Japanese star and Delon with rare English language roles), you wouldn’t know it – he delivers an eye-catching performance; his mere presence takes the attention from his co-stars which, when you consider their standing, is no mean feat.

“Wisecracks and quips”

If you’re only familiar with Bronson from the Death Wish movies, then you may be surprised by the wisecracks and quips he delivers here. Delon’s role is more of a supporting one; although his character provides the thrust of the story – ie, he’s the man being hunted down and whose actions bring the main protagonists together – he has relatively little screen time.

Capucine, Anthony Dawson and Ursula Andress are also among the supporting cast. The last two on the list were well-known to director Terence Young. Dawson was a favourite of his, who worked with Young on nine films, including all three of his Bond movies, Dr No, From Russia with Love and Thunderball; Andress, of course, famously appeared in Dr No too.

The movie was a massive hit in Japan, turning Bronson into a major star over there. Incidentally, he was one of The Magnificent Seven, while Mifune appeared in Seven Samurai, the film on which it’s based.

John Huston claimed Red Sun was one of the greatest westerns ever made. I’m not sure I would go as far as to say that, but it’s certainly stylish, deserves to be better known and, outside of Sergio Leone’s Dollar trilogy, is the best of the spaghetti Westerns I’ve seen.

The special features include insights from film-maker Steven Okazaki and interviews recorded with the cast during the making of the film.