Rising Sun (1993)

Director:

Philip Kaufman

Writers (WGA):

Michael Crichton (novel)
Philip Kaufman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 July 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller | Action

Plot:

At the offices of a Japanese corporation, during a party, a woman, who's evidently a professional mistress...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Japanese | Detective | Business | Hara Kiri

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Sean Connery	...	Capt. John Connor
Wesley Snipes	...	Lt. Webster Smith
Harvey Keitel	...	Lt. Tom Graham
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	Eddie Sakamura
Kevin Anderson	...	Bob Richmond
Mako	...	Yoshida-san
Ray Wise	...	Senator John Morton
Stan Egi	...	Ishihara
Stan Shaw	...	Phillips
Tia Carrere	...	Jingo Asakuma
Steve Buscemi	...	Willy 'the Weasel' Wilhelm
Tatjana Patitz	...	Cheryl Lynn Austin
Peter Crombie	...	Greg
Sam Lloyd	...	Rick
Alexandra Powers	...	Julia
Daniel von Bargen	...	Chief Olson / Interrogator
Lauren Robinson	...	Zelda 'Zelly' Smith
Amy Hill	...	Hsieh
Tom Dahlgren	...	Jim Donaldson
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Tanaka
Michael Chapman	...	Fred Hoffman
Joey Miyashima	...	Young Japanese Negotiator
Nelson Mashita	...	Young Japanese Negotiator
Tamara Tunie	...	Lauren Smith
Tony Ganios	...	Perry
James Oliver Bullock	...	Jeff
Michael Kinsley	...	T.V. Panel Member
Eleanor Clift	...	T.V. Panel Member
Clarence Page	...	T.V. Panel Member
Pat Choate	...	T.V. Panel Member
Steven C. Clemons	...	Show Moderator
Dan Butler	...	Ken Shubik
Toshirô Obata	...	Guard at Imperial Arms
Tylyn John	...	Redhead
Shelley Michelle	...	Blonde
Michele Ruiz	...	T.V. Interviewer
Patricia Ayame Thomson	...	Female Accident Reporter
Jeff Imada	...	Eddie Sakamura's Yakuza
J. Max Kirishima	...	Eddie Sakamura's Yakuza (as Max Kirishima)
Larry O. Williams Jr.	...	Younger Brother
Scot Anthony Robinson	...	First Brother
Keith Leon Williams	...	Another Brother (as Keith Hickles)
Carl A. McGee	...	Guy at Window
Quincy Adams Jr.	...	Mean Face
Cecil Brown	...	Big Guy
Meagen Fay	...	Hamaguri Receptionist
Max Grodénchik	...	Club Manager
Gunnar Peterson	...	Valet
Jessica Tuck	...	Senator Morton's Aide
Masa Watanabe	...	Japanese Elevator Guard
Minnie Summers Lindsey	...	Grandma Otis
Paul Fujimoto	...	Iwabuchi
Kenji	...	Tempura Chef
Michael Leopard	...	Cop
Tak Kubota	...	Nakamoto Yakuza
Fumio Demura	...	Nakamoto Yakuza
Tadashi Yamashita	...	Nakamoto Yakuza
Dennis Ota	...	Nakamoto Yakuza
Raymond Kitamura	...	Nakamoto Yakuza
Rita Weibel	...	Girl at Eddie's Party
Susan Iida	...	Girl in Karaoke Western
Seiichi Tanaka	...	Taiko Drum Master
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Koyama	...	Yakuza (uncredited)
Leo Lee	...	Eddie Sakamura's Yakuza (uncredited)

Directed by
Philip Kaufman

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Crichton		(novel)
Philip Kaufman		(screenplay) and
Michael Crichton		(screenplay) &
Michael Backes		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ian Bryce	....	line producer
Sean Connery	....	executive producer
Peter Kaufman	....	producer

Original Music by
Tôru Takemitsu

Cinematography by
Michael Chapman

Film Editing by
Stephen A. Rotter
William S. Scharf

Casting by
Donna Isaacson

Production Design by
Dean Tavoularis

Art Direction by
Angelo P. Graham

Set Decoration by
Gary Fettis

Costume Design by
Jacqueline West

Makeup Department
Kim Santantonio	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Ian Bryce	....	unit production manager
Susan Spencer Robbins	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Carlisle	....	first assistant director
Frank Davis	....	second assistant director
Cellin Gluck	....	additional second assistant director
Lucille Ouyang	....	second second assistant director
Rebecca Strickland	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Peggy Casey	....	art department coordinator
Dale DeStefani	....	foreman
Robert C. Goldstein	....	set designer
Sean Haworth	....	set designer
Eric A. Hulett	....	buyer
Kurt V. Hulett	....	co-lead man
Peter J. Kelly	....	set designer
Michael Kolko	....	set estimator
Sam Mendoza	....	propmaker foreman
James J. Murakami	....	assistant art director
Maureen Osborne	....	art department coordinator
Alex Tavoularis	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karen Brocco	....	assistant foley editor
Lindakay Brown	....	assistant adr editor
Lisa Chino	....	assistant sound effects editor
Lee Cruikshank	....	apprentice dialogue editor (as Theodore Lee Cruikshank)
Teresa Eckton	....	dialogue editor
Dan Engstrom	....	assistant sound effects editor
Frank E. Eulner	....	sound effects editor (as Frank Eulner)
Amy Leigh Hunter	....	dailies transfer operator
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Kliment	....	sound
Ann Kroeber	....	sound effects editor
Jeffrey Kroeber	....	foley editor
Clayton Leander	....	dailies transfer operator
Mary Helen Leasman	....	assistant dialogue editor
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer
Thomas O'Shea	....	assistant dialogue editor
Claire Sanfilippo	....	assistant dialogue editor
Robert Shoup	....	foley supervisor
Alan Splet	....	sound designer
Dianna Stirpe	....	dialogue editor
Ewa Sztompke	....	dialogue editor
Patti Tauscher	....	assistant sound effects editor
John Verbeck	....	sound effects editor
Hugh Waddell	....	adr supervisor
Marian Wallace	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Larry L. Fuentes	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Mark A.Z. Dippé	....	visual effects supervisor
TyRuben Ellingson	....	visual effects art director
Benton Jew	....	concept artist
Jonathan Keeton	....	digital artist: Western Images
Nancy Luckoff	....	CG coordinator
Dan McNamara	....	visual effects editor
Michael Olague	....	visual effects crew
Jimi Simmons	....	visual effects artist

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Oscar Dillon	....	stunts (as Oscar [Big O'] Dillon)
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunts
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Brian Imada	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunt coordinator
Steven Ito	....	stunts
Jeff Jensen	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
John Koyama	....	stunts (as Johnny Koy)
Leo Lee	....	stunts
Roy K. Ogata	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronnie Rondell)
Bill M. Ryusaki	....	stunts (as Bill Ryusaki)
Marcus Salgado	....	fight consultant
Dick Warlock	....	stunts
Danny Wong	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Steven Ho	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alan Oliney	....	stunt double: Wesley Snipes (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jamie Anderson	....	additional photographer
Jamie Barber	....	first assistant camera
John J. Connor	....	additional photographer (as John Connor Sr.)
John J. Connor	....	director of photography: second unit
John T. Connor	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John T. Connor	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Vincent Contarino	....	best boy electric
Lowell Crisp	....	electrician
Daniel P. Moore	....	video operator
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Nick Shuster	....	camera loader
Jeff Stanman	....	lighting technician
Michael T. Travers	....	best boy grip

Casting Department
Lisa Clarkson	....	casting associate
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Elisa Cohen	....	assistant editor
Robert Grahamjones	....	assistant editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Kevin Rose-Williams	....	assistant editor
Tara Timpone	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Pamela Faulk	....	apprentice music editor
Hiroyuki Iwaki	....	conductor
Richard Marriott	....	composer: additional music
Kevin Rose-Williams	....	assistant music editor
Alan Splet	....	music editor
Jeffery Stephens	....	music editor
Shinichi Tanaka	....	music mixer
Ichiro Uno	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
James Nordberg	....	driver: props
Tim Sisson	....	picture car mechanic
George Grenier	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Carolyn Hagan	....	assistant production office coordinator
Robb Hastigan	....	payroll accountant
Jody Hummer	....	assistant location manager
Kimberly Jase	....	post-production accountant
Jamie Kehoe	....	craft service
James McCabe	....	location manager
Daniel Pinder	....	production assistant (as Dan Pinder)
Vicki Dee Rock	....	production accountant
Eva M. Schroeder	....	assistant location manager
Randy Walker	....	technical advisor: police
Vanessa Grayson	....	stand-in: Tia Carrera (uncredited)
Shelley Michelle	....	body double: sushi scene (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (as Twentiety Century Fox) (presents)
• Walrus & Associates (as Walrus & Associates Ltd.)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Beta (1993) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Manuel Salvador (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• ETD Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Encore Entertainment (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1993) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1994) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Avaco Creative Studio  music recording studio (as Avaco Creative Studio, Japan)
• Cogswell Video Services  video assist equipment
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing (as Deluxe)
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• R/Greenberg Associates (West)  main title design
• Russian Hill Recording  post-production sound services (as Russian Hill Recording, San Francisco)
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Tokyo Concerts  orchestra
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Scores  soundtrack published by
• Video Image  video playback

Also Known As:

Die Wiege der Sonne (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Sol Nascente (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Soleil levant (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Anatellon ilos (Greece) [el]
Blodröd sol (Sweden) [sv]
Izlazece sunce (Serbia) [sr]
Nouseva aurinko (Finland) [fi]
Sol levante (Italy) [it]
Sol naciente (Spain) [es]
Solen stiger (Denmark) [da]
Tõusev päike (Estonia) [et]
Vycházející slunce (Czech Republic) [cs]
Vzhajajoce sonce (Slovenia) [sl]

Runtime:

125 min | USA:129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Japanese Garden, Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Writers Michael Crichton and Michael Backes quit the project largely over disagreement with director Philip Kaufman that one of the lead characters should be changed into an African-American.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Web and Connor drive in the rain and only Web is shown, the passenger side windscreen wiper reaches the area that is wiped by the other blade. When both Web and Connor are shown, the wiper's travel is shorter and it does not reach the area wiped by the other blade.

Quotes:

John Connor: They say if you resort to violence, then you've already lost.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Assembling the League (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

DON'T FENCE ME IN

Fear of Other Cultures, Learning to Understand Them and the Seemingly Obvious

Michael Crichton's Rising Sun is an extensive, dense, unpredictable mess. The actors have a lot of fun and the story is a splurge of entertainment, but it's not paying enough attention to a couple of things. One of them is what its focus is. Is the film about the murder, the two men solving the murder, the clash of American and Japanese cultures, or what? The other thing the film forgets could be a drawback of the first thing. It's that it doesn't tie up all its loose ends. At the end, there are strands left with no ending, even a mysterious ambiguous one. It just ends because it feels the pace of the film requires it to fade out at that particular point.

The film is not bad, mostly because it's far from boring. In fact, there are many scenes of dialogue, despite a few corny scenes of dialogue, that are subtly interesting. We don't quite understand why the exchanges are interesting until later, when we realize that the characters are so deeply contemplated that the scene felt as real as the room you're sitting in. But maybe I'm giving the film too much credit for simply being a load of fun for Michael Crichton to write. After all, he wrote and directed one of the greatest heist films ever made, The Great Train Robbery, also with Sean Connery.

Sean Connery, of course, is the highlight of the film, because there's hardly a way he cannot be. Despite his irrepressible suavity, he does not play himself. He plays a resentful, inflexible, self-indulgent veteran cop, and we are supposed to like Wesley Snipes more because the film centers, well, seems to want to center around his character and also we're given more backstory and information on him. However, we don't like Snipes more than him. Connery may play a stubborn old jerk, but I'd rather one of those than a pompous, intolerant, overpround young jerk like Snipes can hardly help but play.

I cannot reach a verdict on this film. How can I? There are so many things to enjoy at the same time they are hazardous to the film's health.