Seven Nights in Japan

Seven Nights in Japan is a 1976 Anglo-French drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Michael York, Charles Gray, and Hidemi Aoki.

Seven Nights in Japan
Original British Quad poster
Directed byLewis Gilbert
Written byChristopher Wood
Produced byLewis Gilbert
StarringMichael York
Hidemi Aoki
Peter Jones
Charles Gray
CinematographyHenri Decaë
Edited byJohn Glen
Music byDavid Hentschel
Production
company
Distributed byEMI (UK)
Paramount Pictures (USA)
Release date
September 1976 (UK)
Running time
104 mins.
CountriesFrance
UK
LanguageEnglish

Story

The film is about seven days in the life of Prince George, who is travelling in Japan for the first time. While there he meets and falls for a local girl, Sumi, who is a bus tour guide. They spend a few days and nights together at her isolated childhood home. When Sumi discovers his true identity she admonishes him for avoiding his duties as the future king (he had absconded from his planned itinerary of factory visits to be with her; he later justifies his absence to the ambassador by asserting that he was simply taking his allotted naval shore leave). Problems also happen as he is hunted by an unknown Japanese Sect who want him dead, as he left one of their nightclubs without paying (having inadvertently run up a huge bill).

Cast

Production

The film was inspired by the life of Prince Charles, who was serving in the Royal Navy at the time, and was known for his romantic involvements as well as his need for a suitable wife. In the film 'Prince George' is said to be engaged to a member of the Swedish royal family.[1]

"There are echos of Roman Holiday," said York.[2]

In July 1975 Nat Cohen announced the movie would be part of a slate of eleven movies from EMI Films worth £6 million. Others included Aces High, Evil Under the Sun (not made until years later), Sergeant Steiner (later Cross of Iron), To the Devil a Daughter, The Sweeney, The Likely Lads, a remake of Kind Hearts and Coronets with Dick Emery and [[The Nat King Cole Story (both never made), Spanish Fly and All Things Bright and Beautiful (later It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet). Filming started in September with a cast headed by Michael York and Hidemi Asaki.[3][4]

Filming took place on location in Japan in late 1975.[5]

Reception

The Evening Standard called it "a very old fashioned film."[6]

Conservative MP John Stokes called the film "a deliberate attempt to make fun of and discredit Prince Charles", accusing it of being based on the prince's 1970 visit to Japan. This was denied by EMI Films.[7] York wrote in his memoirs that Prince Charles "while not confessing the same irresponsible wish-fulfillment as George, confided that our portrayal of the rigors that face a modern prince was, in some respects, accurate. It was certainly not my intention to reflect unflatteringly on a man I admired."[8]

According to York, the film was a big success in Burma, leading to York being mobbed when he visited.[9]

References
  1. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Michael York Heads for Future CALL SHEET Murphy, Mary. Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug 1975: b6.
  2. Rising son WHYMANT, ROBERT. The Guardian 29 Nov 1975: 11.
  3. Owen, Michael (8 July 1975). "Another Agatha Christie Thriller". Evening Standard. p. 10.
  4. Shamoon, Stella (9 July 1975). "EMI putting £6 million into films in next 12 months". The Daily Telegraph. p. 20.
  5. York, Michael (1991). Accidentally on purpose : an autobiography. Simon & Schuster. p. 304-305.
  6. "The Prince and Madam Butterfly". Evening Standard. 16 September 1976. p. 28.
  7. "Prince film is attacked by MP". The Birmingham Post. 11 February 1976. p. 28.
  8. York p 305
  9. MICHAEL YORK Tired of playing 'sensitive young men,' he's off to Broadway and Bent Godfrey, Stephen. The Globe and Mail, 10 May 1980: E.1.


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