Red Sun [Soleil rouge] *** (1971, Charles Bronson, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, Capucine) – Classic Movie Review 7,778

With an alluring star cast of Charles Bronson, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress and Capucine, the 1971 film Red Sun [Soleil rouge] is a robust and sometimes exciting eastern Western.

Even with this alluring, extraordinary star cast of Charles Bronson, Toshirô Mifune, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress and Capucine, director Terence Young’s 1971 film Red Sun [Soleil rouge] is a slightly disappointing eastern Western.

But it is still a robust and sometimes exciting Spaghetti Western movie, as samurai Kuroda Jubei (Toshirô Mifune) teams up with outlaw Link Stuart (Charles Bronson) to retrieve a special ceremonial Japanese sword from a gang of thieves who have robbed a train and stolen it. It is 1870 and the sword was intended as a symbolic gift the US President from the Japanese.

Filming in Spain, Young directs the Spaghetti Western with an eye to violent action rather than exploring the culture clash the yarn promises, but Red Sun does deliver in that robust action department, and it remains worthwhile for the cast and the action. The Spanish locations, the cinematography by Henri Alekan, and the score by Maurice Jarre greatly enhance the experience, and help to ensure a classy movie.

The Spanish locations include La Calahorra, Granada, Andalucía (the railroad scenes); Adra, Almería, Andalucía; Manzanares el Real, Madrid; and Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía.

Also in the cast are Anthony Dawson, Barta Barri [Bart Barry], Guido Lollobrigida [Lee Burton], Gianni Medici [John Hamilton], Georges Lycan [George W Lycan], Luc Merenda [Luke Merenda] and José Nieto [Jo Nieto], Tetsu Nakamura [Satoshi Nakamura], Julio Peña [Jules Pena], and Mónica Randall.

The screenplay by Denne Bart Petitclerc, William Roberts and Lawrence Roman is based on a story by Laird Koenig.

It was released in France on 15 September 1971, in Italy on 26 October 1971, in Spain on 20 December 1971 and in the United States on 9 June 1972.

Alain Delon plays Gotch ‘Gauche’ Kink in Red Sun (1971).

Poor Alain Delon is saddled with the character name of Gotch ‘Gauche’ Kink. Gauche Kink!!

Young and Bronson next made The Valachi Papers (1972) together.

Delon and Bronson had starred together in Farewell Friend [Adieu l’ami] (1968) as former foreign legionnaires involved in a heist, a film that helped to turn Bronson into a big star in Europe.

Bronson had starred in The Magnificent Seven, the American remake of Seven Samurai, which starred Mifune.

Red Sun is directed by Terence Young, runs 112 minutes, is made by Les Films Corona, Oceania Produzioni Internazionali, and Cinematografiche Producciones Balcázar SA, is distributed by Les Films Corona, is written by Denne Bart Petitclercm William Roberts and Lawrence Roman, based on a story by Laird Koenig, is produced by Robert Dorfmann and Ted Richmond, is shot by Henri Alekan, and is scored by Maurice Jarre.

The cast are Charles Bronson as Link Stuart, Ursula Andress as Cristina, Toshirō Mifune as Kuroda Jubei, Alain Delon as Gauche Kink, Capucine as Pepita, Barta Barri as Paco, Lee Burton as Mace, Anthony Dawson as Hyatt, John Hamilton as Miguel, George W Lycan as Sheriff Stone, Luc Merenda as Chato, Tetsu Nakamura as the Japanese Ambassador, Mónica Randall as Maria, José Nieto as Murdered Farmer, Julio Peña as Peppie, and Ricardo Palacios as Pogo.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7,778

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