Empire of the Sun (1987)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

J.G. Ballard (novel)
Tom Stoppard (writer)

Release Date:

9 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.

Plot:

A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II.

Plot Keywords:

Japanese | British | Food | American | Pilot

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Christian Bale	...	Jim 'Jamie' Graham
John Malkovich	...	Basie
Miranda Richardson	...	Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers	...	Dr. Rawlins
Joe Pantoliano	...	Frank Demarest
Leslie Phillips	...	Maxton
Masatô Ibu	...	Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richard	...	Mary Graham, Jim's mother
Rupert Frazer	...	John Graham, Jim's father
Peter Gale	...	Mr. Victor
Takatoro Kataoka	...	Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Ben Stiller	...	Dainty
David Neidorf	...	Tiptree
Ralph Seymour	...	Cohen
Robert Stephens	...	Mr. Lockwood

Runtime:

153 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese | Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Spain:T | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 (DVD rating) | Norway:15 (cinema release) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Japan:U | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 | Taiwan:GP | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

Mark Rylance was offered a part.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The model airplanes that Jim set on fire are plastic models by AURORA. These models were not released until 1957, some 16 years after the story takes place.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: [title card] In 1941 China and Japan had been in a state of undeclared war for four years. A Japanese army of occupation was in control of much of the countryside and many towns and cities. In Shanghai thousands of Westerners, protected by the diplomatic security of the International Settlement, continued to live as they had lived since the British came here in the 19th century and built in the image of their own country...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kicking and Screaming (1995)

Soundtrack:

The British Grenadiers

Extraordinary performance from Christian Bale

I had put off watching this until recently, I do not know why, I had not read reviews and for some reason imagined it to be a movie about a young Japanese prince(!!).

I was captivated by the performance of Christian Bale as a privileged young boy named Jim Graham, growing up in Shanghai, very far removed from the poverty and despair all around him. When war breaks out, this changes him forever and hence the story.

After some harrowing experiences he winds up in a prisoner of war camp where he befriends some interesting characters and quickly adapts to a life of conniving and subterfuge to survive.

The transformation of Jim is beautifully captured, Steven Spielberg is a gifted director of child actors and gets a maximum performance always.

I was enthralled from beginning to end, young Jim was forever changed by his experiences and this change is portrayed starkly here when he is finally reunited with his parents.

8 out of 10 for equally impressive performances from John Malkovich and Miranda Richardson, but Christian Bale's performance deserved an Oscar.