The Challenge (1982 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Challenge


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director = John Frankenheimer
producer = Ron Beckman Robert L. Rosen
writer = Richard Maxwell Marc Norman John Sayles
narrator =
starring = Scott Glenn Toshiro Mifune Donna Kei Benz Atsuo Nakamura Calvin Jung
music = Jerry Goldsmith
cinematography = Kozo Okazaki
editing = Jack Wheeler John W. Wheeler
distributor =
released =
runtime = 112 min.
country = USA
language =
budget =
gross = $3,600,000
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website =
amg_id = 1:8806
imdb_id = 0083726

"The Challenge" is a 1982 action film directed by John Frankenheimer and written by by John Sayles. The film stars Scott Glenn and Toshiro Mifune.

Plot summary

Rick Murphy (Scott Glenn) is contracted to smuggle a rare sword into Japan, only to find upon his arrival that it is a fake. Aggravated that he has been used as a decoy for the genuine article, he is then faced with the prospect of being killed by Yoshida-San's (Toshiro Mifune) brother, Hideo. Instead, he is 'advised' to infiltrate Yoshida's samurai school and obtain the sword. He does so, yet finds himself being drawn into the ways of Japanese etiquette and tradition to the point where he returns the sword to Yoshida himself after having the perfect opportunity to escape with it. The sword (one of a pair, known as 'THE EQUALS' - Hideo has the other one, incidentally) was a family heirloom, passed down through the generations, and had been lost during the War. It was finally tracked down in California where Yoshiida's son, Toshio, finds it and tracks down someone to act as a decoy in order to safely smuggle it into Japan, and back to its rightful owner, Yoshida-San.

Murphy continues to bumble his way through life at the School until, after a treacherous, almost fatal, attempt by one of the higher members of the school to steal the sword, he leaves and is found in a hotel in Kyoto by Akiko, Yoshida's only daughter. They engage in some 'horizontal refreshment' and embark on a day's sightseeing, until Hideo's henchmen snatch her and deliver her to her uncle, Hideo. The cliche'd third act then commences, with Yoshida, laden with ancient samurai weaponry, venturing out to Hideo's industrial complex where he is shot and wounded by Ando (Calvin Jung), the main henchman. Ando is slain by Hideo for this, and Murphy, who has joined him in his quest, opts to fight Hideo to defend his 'Sensei'. Murphy, manages to defeat the more-than-competent-swordsman and wins the day.

External links