Shogun (TV series) is a redirect to this article. For the 2024 series of the same name, see Shōgun (2024).
Shogun is the title of an American television series released in 1980 based on the novel of the same name by the British-American writer James Clavell (1924-1994). The historical model for the novel and the series was, among other things: the experiences of the English navigator William Adams, who reached the coast of Japan in the service of a Dutch trading expedition in 1600 and died as a samurai in 1620. Clavell also used the notes of the Portuguese adventurer Fernao Mendes Pinto and those of the Jesuit missionary Francisco de Xavier (Francis Xavier).
At the beginning of the 17th century, navigator John Blackthorne’s ship reached the Japanese coast in a storm. Blackthorne manages to save himself and is initially locked up. However, he was soon able to win the favor of Prince Toranaga, who made him his follower. Through his service to Toranaga, Blackthorne is drawn into the intrigue of some feudal lords for power in the country. He falls in love with his married translator Mariko, but she is killed in an attack. His dream of boarding the Portuguese’s black ship also fails because Toranaga has his ship burned down because he needs the Portuguese. Toranaga is appointed shogun by the emperor after a battle against Ishido.
Many narrative strands were shortened or changed, which can partly be explained by the complexity of the novel and partly by the fact that the series or film focuses more on the character Blackthorne than on the other characters in the novel. The viewer is kept at almost the same level of knowledge as Blackthorne.
Among other things, the following are missing:
- Insights into Prince Toranaga’s thoughts – except for briefly at the end – completely, giving the impression that you can’t assess this man.
- Omi’s and also Yabu’s conversations with the family, which show, for example, that Omi has much more political skill than his uncle.
- Toranaga’s conversations with his son Naga or the lady Kiri.
- The conversations between Fujiko, Blackthorne’s companion, and Lord Toranaga.
- Mura’s past as well as his influence as a spy in Anjiro.
What was changed, among other things:
- A voice-over narrator explains events and Japanese dialogue from time to time.
- The behavior of the priests. In the original novel they are still the navigator’s enemies, but are not portrayed quite as blackly as is the case in the film adaptation.
- In the novel, Kiku is asked by Prince Toranaga if she wants to become Anjin-san’s wife. In the film, after Kiku is awarded to him by Toranaga, Blackthorne gives the certificate designating Kiku as his “property” to Omi.
- In contrast, in the novel, the couple Kiku and Omi do not have a happy ending; it is only suggested that this lady is a gift that has to be earned and that Omi still has to prove himself with regard to the question of where his loyalty lies lies.
The story is based on the life of William Adams, probably the first European to receive the title of samurai. The historical model for Toranaga and part of the plot is the work of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, after a long civil war and many power intrigues, seized power in Japan with the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and founded the Tokugawa shogunate, which lasted until the middle of the 19th century .century lasted.
The television series, directed by Jerry London and with cinematography by Andrew Laszlo, became a classic of the 1980s in Germany. There were further broadcasts
- 7 episodes of 60 minutes each (ZDF, 1986 and 1990)
- 5 episodes (GDR television, May 6 to June 3, 1988)
- 11 Folgen at 45 Min. (Sat.1, 1992)
- Feature film, 142 min. (ProSieben, 1993 and 1994)
- 5 episodes, 90–110 minutes (NDR, 2004; Anixe, 2008)
- 11 episodes of 45 minutes each (Arte, March/April 2010)
In the original English version:
- 5 episodes = opening episode 3 hours, 3 episodes of 62 minutes each, last episode 3 hours – first broadcast in the USA from September 15th to 19th, 1980.
- As a DVD release, 10 episodes of 60 minutes each.
Based on James Clavell’s Shogun novel, a Broadway musical of the same name (1990) and several computer games were created.
The predominantly Japanese dialogues were not dubbed. Subtitles are also rarely displayed. This way the viewer can better empathize with the situation of a foreigner in Japan. In the original version, Orson Welles lent his voice to the explanatory narrator.
In 2004 the complete miniseries was released in a DVD edition on 5 discs. The first 4 contain the series without episode breaks, the fifth contains extras, including: a longer making-of. Since the ZDF version was extensively shortened, these parts were synchronized – as much as possible with the original speakers.
2024-03-11 15:15:26
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