The Phoenix (火の鳥) 45 years old

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.

Credits

The Phoenix Cast

Name Character
Tatsuya Nakadai He was 45, now 91 years old as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
Reiko Ohara She was 31, 62 years old when she died as Hinaku
Tomisaburo Wakayama He was 48, 62 years old when he died as Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai
Hideji Ōtaki He was 53, 87 years old when he died as Sukune
Junzaburo Ban He was 68, 71 years old when he died as Exorcist
Jun Fubuki She was 26, now 71 years old as Oro
Toru Emori He was 34, now 80 years old as Susanoo
Mieko Takamine She was 59, 71 years old when she died as Queen Himiko of Yamatai
Masao Kusakari He was 25, now 71 years old as Yumihiko of Matsuro
Toshinori Omi He was 12, now 58 years old as Nagi
Mitsuko Kusabue She was 44, now 90 years old as Iyo
Ken Tanaka as Takeru
Takeshi Kato He was 35, 39 years old when he died as Kamamushi

The Phoenix Crew

Name Department
Michel Legrand as Music. He was 46 (86) years old when He died Sound
Osamu Tezuka as Animation. He was 49 (60) years old when He died Visual Effects
Osamu Tezuka as Story. He was 49 (60) years old when He died Writing
Kon Ichikawa as Director. He was 62 (92) years old when He died Directing
Kiyoshi Hasegawa as Cinematography. Kiyoshi Hasegawa was 87 (89) years old when Kiyoshi Hasegawa died Crew
Teruyoshi Nakano as Special Effects. He was 42 (now 88) years old Crew
Shuntarō Tanikawa as Screenplay. He was 46 (now 92) years old Writing
The Phoenix poster
The Phoenix (45 years)

  • Release day: Saturday, August 12, 1978
  • Runtime: 137 minutes