Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai: a Glorious Role

The Saga of the Last Samurai

Hollywood is the leader in world cinema and has thrown up stars with a global following. One of the stars that deserve mention is Tom Cruise. This handsome star has starred in many Hollywood hits, some of them unforgettable. One of his films in which he gave a stupendous performance is ‘The Last Samurai”.. The Samurai are a warrior clan that dominated Japanese society and culture for close to 3000 years. They had distinctive swords that were slightly curved and thus more aerodynamic with minimal drag.

Tom Cruise plays an American in Japan who dons the garb of the last Samurai. There is a lovely undertone of a celestial love between Tom Cruise and the widow Taka of a Samurai warrior played by Japanese actress Kayuki. In the end Tom Cruise returns to the village and his love for eternal bliss and happiness. In the movie Tom Cruise as a samurai a warrior plays his role to the hilt. The battle with swords against guns and artillery is stupendous. The photography is wonderful and the scenic splendor of Japan is captured beautifully by the camera.

The film is based on the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion led by Sag Takamori was a battle between Samurai warriors with swords against Government forces with rifles and cannon. Tom is ably complimented by the Japanese actor Ken Watanabe as the warrior Sag Takamoni. This is one of the best films of Tom Cruise and brings out his histrionic ability For me this is the best film of Tom Cruise as he dons the garb of a Samurai warrior to perfection.

My Tribute to Yul Brynner: a Hollywood Great

One actor in Hollywood who exuded a masculinity and macho appeal was Yul Brynner. In the fifties and early sixties Yul Brynner was one of the top stars of Hollywood. He was a star who appeared in numerous films with bald head, with not a hair on his scalp, yet he was adulated by the masses and he gave some stupendous hits.To get a measure of the sex appeal of Yul Brynner one has only to see the movie "Solomon and Sheba', where Yul Brynner played the role of Solomon the great Jew king who loved the queen of Sheba played by the sexiest star on the Hollywood screen- Gina Lollobrigida.

Yul Brynner was born in Russia in 1920 and his real name was Taidje Khan. He migrated to the US and became an American citizen in 1943. Before that he had worked as a radio announcer for the US Army. Yul Brynner is known for his roles as the bald gun man in 'The Magnificent Seven: and the Egyptian Pharaoh in "TheTen Commandments'.Earlier he had made a tremendous impact in the movie'The King and I'. Among his other films is The brothers Karamazov, Taras Bulba, Death Rage, The Ultimate warrior among others

Brynner was a natural actor and died in 1985 of cancer. He was an inveterate smoker and contracted lung cancer.But all along he led a checkered life and was married 4 times. In 1965 he renounced his American citizenship to escape the tax laws of the USA.

Yul Brynner was acknowledged as a great actor and won the Oscar for the best actor for his role in 'The King and I'. Now that the dust has settled critic do acknowledge that Yul Brynner was an actor par excellence and deserves a place in Hollywood's hall of fame.

Remembering IS Johar as 'Bapu' in Harry Black.... Tiger"

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IS Johar was a film star who had a penchant for doing comedy roles on the Mumbai screen. In  fact he was quite a draw as an actor in the fifties and sixties with his slapstick comedy roles. Bu the same Johar acted in some Hollywood films as well and there he did not play the role of  the buffoon.  

Many present day stars are longing to act in Hollywood films, but IS Johar outdid them nearly 4 decades back. One of his more memorable roles was in the movie ' Harry Black and the Tiger'. The film which was shot entirely in India starred  Stewart Granger and Barbara Rush  with Anthony Steele in an important role. but our own IS Johar put in a wonderful performance as the valet and tiger tracker of Stewart Granger.  The film was made in 1959 and IS Johar essayed the role of 'bapu' a valet to the hero. Johar literally lived the role as the film revolved around the plan to kill a man eating tiger. The shikari is played by Stewart Granger who has lost a leg in a German POW camp during the war. By luck he meets the very man who by cowardice  allowed thisto happen. He is married to the woman who Granger loves.    That is the love angle but basically the film concerns  a tale of a man and a jungle beast. the last scene where Johar and the Hunter enter  a dark cave to kill the tiger are spine tingling.  All credit to Johar who turned in a stupendous performance, that is remembered even now.  

  The film runs for 107 minutes and has 4 track stereo recording for excellent sound effects of the Jungle and the tiger. The director is  Hugo Fergenese and he has captured the essence of India on celluloid.  IS Johar was a nomination for the BAFTA award for the best actor in a supporting role. He lost by one vote.  It was rumored that he lost because he was an Indian. In those days the westerners were averse to giving awards to Indians. It's changed now and 'Slum Dog..' could get a number of Oscars.One can sit back and remember that IS Johar did India proud with this role. A bit of trivia aabout the film is worth knowing.

 Stewart Granger used his personal rifle for all the shoots in the film