This extraordinarily complex film is not only a send-up of every samurai film ever made, it is also an extrapolation of the value of life. The Yamatai, represented by Prince Susano-O and elderly advisor Sumuke, hire Yumihiko of Matsuro to hunt the phoenix so that Queen Himiko, sister of Susano-O can have eteranal life.
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Part of Phoenix Collection
7 films
Cast
25 people
Jun Fubuki
Oro
Known for
From Up on Poppy Hill
The Boy and the Heron
Tomisaburō Wakayama
Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai
Known for
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
Black Rain
Michel Legrand
Known for
Cléo from 5 to 7
Kon Ichikawa
Shuntaro Tanikawa
Also in
Carol
The Summer of Stickleback
Kiichi Ichikawa
Toshinori Omi
Nagi
Known for
Kamen Rider Black Sun
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
Osamu Tezuka
Kunihiko Murai
Kiyoshi Hasegawa
Masao Kusakari
Yumihiko of Matsuro
Known for
Virus
Teruyoshi Nakano
Also in
The Spirit of Godzilla
Kon Ichikawa Director · Shuntaro Tanikawa Screenplay Osamu Tezuka Author
United States release March 30, 1979 · Produced in Japan · Production Hi no Tori Productions, Tezuka Productions
Production
TOHO
Production
Hi no Tori Productions
Production
Tezuka Productions
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
火の鳥
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · August 12, 1978
Theatrical
United States · March 30, 1979
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Some details come from TheTVDB.