Anatahan (film)
Encyclopedia
, also known as The Saga of Anatahan, is a 1953 black-and-white Japanese film
war drama directed by Josef von Sternberg
.
It was the final work directed by noted Hollywood director Josef von Sternberg (although Jet Pilot
was released later). Von Sternberg had an unusually high degree of control over the film, made outside the studio system, which allowed him to not only direct, but also write, photograph, and narrate the action. Although it opened modestly well in Japan, it did poorly in America, where von Sternberg continued to recut the film for four more years. He subsequently abandoned the project and went on to teach film at UCLA for most of the remainder of his lifetime.
Art director was Takashi Kono, special effects was made by Eiji Tsuburaya
and camera operator was Kozo Okazaki.
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
war drama directed by Josef von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg — born Jonas Sternberg — was an Austrian-American film director. He is particularly noted for his distinctive mise en scène, use of lighting and soft lens, and seven-film collaboration with actress Marlene Dietrich.-Youth:Von Sternberg was born Jonas Sternberg to a Jewish...
.
It was the final work directed by noted Hollywood director Josef von Sternberg (although Jet Pilot
Jet Pilot (film)
Jet Pilot is a 1957 Cold War romantic comedy film starring John Wayne and Janet Leigh. Written by Jules Furthman, the Technicolor movie went through several directorial changes. Josef von Sternberg directed between October, 1949 and February, 1950...
was released later). Von Sternberg had an unusually high degree of control over the film, made outside the studio system, which allowed him to not only direct, but also write, photograph, and narrate the action. Although it opened modestly well in Japan, it did poorly in America, where von Sternberg continued to recut the film for four more years. He subsequently abandoned the project and went on to teach film at UCLA for most of the remainder of his lifetime.
Art director was Takashi Kono, special effects was made by Eiji Tsuburaya
Eiji Tsuburaya
was the Japanese special effects director responsible for many Japanese science-fiction movies, including the Godzilla series...
and camera operator was Kozo Okazaki.
Plot
Twelve men of a shipwreck find themselves on a desert island, which is only inhabited by a farmer and a beautiful woman. A bloody struggle of power ensues, as also they find hand weapons from the crash of an American fighter.Cast
- Akemi NegishiAkemi Negishiwas a Japanese actress.-Film career:Tokyo-born Akemi Negishi came to the attention of international audiences when she starred in the US/Japanese co-production Anatahan, her debut film. Josef von Sternberg directed the tale of shipwrecked Japanese soldiers who refused to believe that WWII had ended...
as the 'Queen Bee', Keiko Kusakabe - Tadashi Suganuma as Kusakabe, Husband of Keiko
- Kisaburo Sawamura as Kuroda
- Shōji NakayamaShōji Nakayama- Filmography :* Anatahan aka The Saga of Anatahan * * Super Giant *...
as Nishio - Jun Fujikawa as Yoshisato
- Hiroshi Kondō as Yanaginuma
- Shozo Miyashita as Sennami
- Tsuruemon Bando as Doi
- Kikuji Onoe as Kaneda
- Rokuriro Kineya as Marui
- Daijiro Tamura as Kanzaki
- Chizuru Kitagawa
- Takeshi Suzuki as Takahashi
- Shiro Amikura as Amanuma
- Josef von SternbergJosef von SternbergJosef von Sternberg — born Jonas Sternberg — was an Austrian-American film director. He is particularly noted for his distinctive mise en scène, use of lighting and soft lens, and seven-film collaboration with actress Marlene Dietrich.-Youth:Von Sternberg was born Jonas Sternberg to a Jewish...
as voice of narrator (uncredited)