The Last War: Difference between revisions
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==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
In [[1961]], 16 years after the end of the Second World War, [[Tokyo]] is a bustling metropolis and [[Japan]] has recovered from the devastation of the war. Mokichi Tamura works as a limousine driver at a press center where foreign reporters gather, and invests in the stock market to try and support his ill wife Oyoshi and three children. Mokichi's eldest daughter Saeko is in love with a young sailor named Takano, and the two plan to get married. Takano finally returns to Tokyo after his latest voyage and visits Ebara, the cook on his ship who could not serve on the most recent voyage due to a stomach ulcer. While recovering from his operation, Ebara has been helping his daughter Sanae run her daycare. Ebara explains to Takano that his time helping with the daycare and being around children has helped him learn to enjoy life even at his old age. Tanako then comes to the Tamura's home to stay with them for the time being. In Saeko's room, the two discuss asking for Mokichi's consent to their marriage. Saeko has already told her mother and received her blessing, but she is worried about what her father will say. Mokichi comes upstairs and overhears the conversation, and Saeko and Takano decide to finally ask for his blessing. Mokichi is hesitant, but his wife comes upstairs and joins the conversation. She recounts how madly in love Mokichi was with her when they were married, embarassing him. Mokichi finally gives his blessing for the marriage, and the two begin planning for their wedding. | |||
Outside of the Tamura's peaceful family life, global political tensions are rising. The major world powers have split into two rival camps: the Federation consisting of the [[United States]] and its allies, and the Alliance consisting of the [[Russia|Soviet Union]] and its allies. Both sides have built up their nuclear arsenals, and the eruption of armed conflict could easily lead to a global nuclear war. The Cold War escalates when a Federal submarine enters Alliance military exercise ground in the North Atlantic. As a member of the Federation, Japan is obligated to take part in a war should one erupt. Despite currently suffering from a serious illness, Japanese Prime Minister is dedicated to finding a peaceful resolution and preventing nuclear armageddon. A close call occurs when a Federation base received an accidental order to launch its nuclear arsenal. The base's commander reluctantly presses the launch button, but is informed of the error and manages to stop the countdown before the missile is launched. Watkins, an American reporter currently in Tokyo who is driven by Mokichi, visits Takano at the Tamura's home and informs him that tensions are growing along the 38th parallel in Korea. He is worried that should armed conflict resume between the Federation-backed South Korea and Alliance-backed North Korea, it could lead to a broader global war. Watkins travels to the 38th parallel to report on the situation, shortly after which armed conflict begins as artillery on both sides exchange fire. Federation and Alliance fighters enter the battle area and exchange fire before both sides deploy ballistic nuclear missiles. While the missiles used are not particularly high yield, the use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict is an unprecedented move that raises global concerns. The Alliance responds by constructing more missile silos at its North Pole missile base. While excavating through the ice with explosives, the Alliance accidentally triggers and avalanche that damages the launch controls for a nuclear missiles and begins the countdown. The general and personnel trapped inside the silo with the missile realize that once it is launched, retaliation will be immediate before anyone can realize it was launched in error and the world will be annihilated. Taking matters into his own hands, the general climbs to the top of the missile and attempts to remove the activator before the missile launches. He is successful, and a nuclear catastrophe is avoided. Soon after, a ceasefire is declared at the 38th parallel and relations between the Federation and Alliance seem to be improving. Military personnel on both sides have begun to breathe a sigh of relief, and planning for what they will do when they return home. | |||
This peace is shattered unfortunately once Federation and Alliance aircraft begin to battle over the Arctic Ocean. War is declared as forces from both sides begin entering each other's territory. The use of nuclear weapons by both sides to attack the other's major cities appears inevitable, and a panic breaks out. Takano elopes with Saeko in [[Yokohama]] before leaving for his next voyage. While at sea after hearing the news of the impending nuclear war, Tanako contacts Saeko via telegram and the two exchange their final goodbyes. Saeko joins her family for New Year's dinner, which will in all likelihood be their final meal. While Oyoshi and Saeko are well aware of their impending doom, Mokichi remains in denial, insisting humanity will not bring about its own destruction. Oyoshi struggles to keep her composure and play along, but Saeko breaks down and expresses the certainty that they will all be killed. Mokichi storms off to his room and watches the sunset from his balcony. He loudly declares he and his family will survive, that he will move to a summer home with his wife, that he will see Saeko fulfill her dream to become a radio hostess, and that he will see his son attend university, something he himself could never do. As Mokichi finally accepts the reality of the situation, he breaks down and sobs. Sanae remains at her daycare with the children whose parents could not retrieve them, and comforts them in their final moments by reading to them. The Prime Minister sits silently and dejected in a room in the [[National Diet Building]], his efforts to preserve global peace ultimately being in vain. At an Alliance missile base, one of the personnel agonizingly presses the button that launches a nuclear missile at Tokyo. The missile reaches and explodes over the city, the shockwave blasting apart the countless buildings like paper and causing [[Tokyo Bay]] to boil. Flame storms through the city, incinerating the ruined scraps of the metropolis. Black nuclear rain pours onto the burning city, as the ground splits open and pours forth molten lava into the streets. A terrifying mushroom cloud envelops the city and can be seen from miles away. Other major cities around the globe meet the same fate: [[New York]], [[Paris]], [[Moscow]], and many others are wiped off the map in an instant. | |||
Out at sea, Tanako and the others on his boat witness the end of Tokyo as they see mushroom cloud rising overhead. The captain asks the crew what they shall do next, remain at sea or return home to the remnants of Tokyo. If they return, they will contract lethal radiation sickness from the fallout, and their boat will be contaminated before they even reach the shore. Everyone remains silent, signaling a unanimous decision to return home, with which the captain agrees. Ebara comes on deck and gives everyone coffee, feigning happiness and remarking how a good cup of coffee makes him feel glad to be alive. He looks out over the sea and struggles to maintain his composure, asking why if life is so good that they are willingly going to their deaths. The captain gives the order to turn back to Tokyo, and the ship begins making its way back, where its entire crew will meet certain death. Takano and Ebara stand on deck, where both finally break down and weep as they prepare to join their love ones in death. | |||
As the Diet Building sits among the scorched molten ruins of Tokyo, the audience is reminded that this is a work of fiction that could one day become real. Only by working together can mankind avoid this terrible fate. | |||
==Staff== | ==Staff== | ||
{{Staffs | {{Staffs | ||
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}} | }} | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*For the scenes depicting the destruction of Paris, Moscow, New York, London, | *For the scenes depicting the destruction of [[Tokyo]], [[Paris]], [[Moscow]], [[New York]], and [[London]], [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] suggested creating miniatures out of paraffin, before it was suggested to use wafers. In a 1996 interview, miniature builder Yoshio Irie recalled "Since the destruction of the world's cities was going to be such a crucial element of [''The Last War''], we tried to find a substance that would produce especially convincing results when blown up. We experimented with many different materials, but found that wafers worked best. Unfortunately, we also found that mice liked to eat the wafers."<ref name="ETMoMonsters">{{Cite book|title=[[Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters]]|date=6 May [[2014]]|author=August Ragone|publisher=Chronicle Books LLC|page=65|isbn=1452135398}}</ref> | ||
**In order to combat the issue of mice eating the wafers, several of the miniatures were hung and filmed upside down, which ultimately made them look in the finished film like they were being blasted high into the air.<ref name="ETMoMonsters"/> | **In order to combat the issue of mice eating the wafers, several of the miniatures were hung and filmed upside down, which ultimately made them look in the finished film like they were being blasted high into the air.<ref name="ETMoMonsters"/> | ||
==References== | ==References== |
Revision as of 21:59, 16 June 2019
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This article is a work in progress. Please help in the creation of this article by expanding or improving it. |
The Last War (世界大戦争 is a Sekai Daisensō, lit. The Great World War)1961 tokusatsu science-fiction film produced by Toho. It was released to Japanese theaters on October 8, 1961.
Plot
In 1961, 16 years after the end of the Second World War, Tokyo is a bustling metropolis and Japan has recovered from the devastation of the war. Mokichi Tamura works as a limousine driver at a press center where foreign reporters gather, and invests in the stock market to try and support his ill wife Oyoshi and three children. Mokichi's eldest daughter Saeko is in love with a young sailor named Takano, and the two plan to get married. Takano finally returns to Tokyo after his latest voyage and visits Ebara, the cook on his ship who could not serve on the most recent voyage due to a stomach ulcer. While recovering from his operation, Ebara has been helping his daughter Sanae run her daycare. Ebara explains to Takano that his time helping with the daycare and being around children has helped him learn to enjoy life even at his old age. Tanako then comes to the Tamura's home to stay with them for the time being. In Saeko's room, the two discuss asking for Mokichi's consent to their marriage. Saeko has already told her mother and received her blessing, but she is worried about what her father will say. Mokichi comes upstairs and overhears the conversation, and Saeko and Takano decide to finally ask for his blessing. Mokichi is hesitant, but his wife comes upstairs and joins the conversation. She recounts how madly in love Mokichi was with her when they were married, embarassing him. Mokichi finally gives his blessing for the marriage, and the two begin planning for their wedding.
Outside of the Tamura's peaceful family life, global political tensions are rising. The major world powers have split into two rival camps: the Federation consisting of the United States and its allies, and the Alliance consisting of the Soviet Union and its allies. Both sides have built up their nuclear arsenals, and the eruption of armed conflict could easily lead to a global nuclear war. The Cold War escalates when a Federal submarine enters Alliance military exercise ground in the North Atlantic. As a member of the Federation, Japan is obligated to take part in a war should one erupt. Despite currently suffering from a serious illness, Japanese Prime Minister is dedicated to finding a peaceful resolution and preventing nuclear armageddon. A close call occurs when a Federation base received an accidental order to launch its nuclear arsenal. The base's commander reluctantly presses the launch button, but is informed of the error and manages to stop the countdown before the missile is launched. Watkins, an American reporter currently in Tokyo who is driven by Mokichi, visits Takano at the Tamura's home and informs him that tensions are growing along the 38th parallel in Korea. He is worried that should armed conflict resume between the Federation-backed South Korea and Alliance-backed North Korea, it could lead to a broader global war. Watkins travels to the 38th parallel to report on the situation, shortly after which armed conflict begins as artillery on both sides exchange fire. Federation and Alliance fighters enter the battle area and exchange fire before both sides deploy ballistic nuclear missiles. While the missiles used are not particularly high yield, the use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict is an unprecedented move that raises global concerns. The Alliance responds by constructing more missile silos at its North Pole missile base. While excavating through the ice with explosives, the Alliance accidentally triggers and avalanche that damages the launch controls for a nuclear missiles and begins the countdown. The general and personnel trapped inside the silo with the missile realize that once it is launched, retaliation will be immediate before anyone can realize it was launched in error and the world will be annihilated. Taking matters into his own hands, the general climbs to the top of the missile and attempts to remove the activator before the missile launches. He is successful, and a nuclear catastrophe is avoided. Soon after, a ceasefire is declared at the 38th parallel and relations between the Federation and Alliance seem to be improving. Military personnel on both sides have begun to breathe a sigh of relief, and planning for what they will do when they return home.
This peace is shattered unfortunately once Federation and Alliance aircraft begin to battle over the Arctic Ocean. War is declared as forces from both sides begin entering each other's territory. The use of nuclear weapons by both sides to attack the other's major cities appears inevitable, and a panic breaks out. Takano elopes with Saeko in Yokohama before leaving for his next voyage. While at sea after hearing the news of the impending nuclear war, Tanako contacts Saeko via telegram and the two exchange their final goodbyes. Saeko joins her family for New Year's dinner, which will in all likelihood be their final meal. While Oyoshi and Saeko are well aware of their impending doom, Mokichi remains in denial, insisting humanity will not bring about its own destruction. Oyoshi struggles to keep her composure and play along, but Saeko breaks down and expresses the certainty that they will all be killed. Mokichi storms off to his room and watches the sunset from his balcony. He loudly declares he and his family will survive, that he will move to a summer home with his wife, that he will see Saeko fulfill her dream to become a radio hostess, and that he will see his son attend university, something he himself could never do. As Mokichi finally accepts the reality of the situation, he breaks down and sobs. Sanae remains at her daycare with the children whose parents could not retrieve them, and comforts them in their final moments by reading to them. The Prime Minister sits silently and dejected in a room in the National Diet Building, his efforts to preserve global peace ultimately being in vain. At an Alliance missile base, one of the personnel agonizingly presses the button that launches a nuclear missile at Tokyo. The missile reaches and explodes over the city, the shockwave blasting apart the countless buildings like paper and causing Tokyo Bay to boil. Flame storms through the city, incinerating the ruined scraps of the metropolis. Black nuclear rain pours onto the burning city, as the ground splits open and pours forth molten lava into the streets. A terrifying mushroom cloud envelops the city and can be seen from miles away. Other major cities around the globe meet the same fate: New York, Paris, Moscow, and many others are wiped off the map in an instant.
Out at sea, Tanako and the others on his boat witness the end of Tokyo as they see mushroom cloud rising overhead. The captain asks the crew what they shall do next, remain at sea or return home to the remnants of Tokyo. If they return, they will contract lethal radiation sickness from the fallout, and their boat will be contaminated before they even reach the shore. Everyone remains silent, signaling a unanimous decision to return home, with which the captain agrees. Ebara comes on deck and gives everyone coffee, feigning happiness and remarking how a good cup of coffee makes him feel glad to be alive. He looks out over the sea and struggles to maintain his composure, asking why if life is so good that they are willingly going to their deaths. The captain gives the order to turn back to Tokyo, and the ship begins making its way back, where its entire crew will meet certain death. Takano and Ebara stand on deck, where both finally break down and weep as they prepare to join their love ones in death.
As the Diet Building sits among the scorched molten ruins of Tokyo, the audience is reminded that this is a work of fiction that could one day become real. Only by working together can mankind avoid this terrible fate.
Staff
Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.
- Directed by Shue Matsubayashi
- Written by Toshio Yasumi, Takeshi Kimura
- Produced by Sanezumi Fujimoto, Tomoyuki Tanaka
- Music by Ikuma Dan
- Cinematography by Rokuro Nishigaki
- Edited by Koichi Iwashita
- Production design by Takeo Kita, Teruaki Abe
- Assistant directing by Yasuyoshi Tajitsu
- Special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, Sadamasa Arikawa, Takao Miyuki, Yoshiyuki Tokumasa, Akira Watanabe, Kuichiro Kishida, Hiroshi Mukoyama, Kan Narita
- Recording by Fumio Yanoguchi
- Mixing by Hisashi Shimonaga
- Production Manager Boku Morimoto
Cast
Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.
- Frankie Sakai as Mokichi Tamura
- Akira Takarada as Takano
- Yuriko Hoshi as Saeko Tamura
- Nobuko Otawa as Mokichi's Wife
- Yumi Shirakawa as Saeko
- Shu Ryuichi as
- Jerry Ito as Watkins
- Eijiro Tono as
- So Yamamura as Prime Minister
- Ken Uehara as Foreign Minister
- Seizaburo Kawazu as Defense Agency General
- Nobuo Nakamura as Chief Cabinet Secretary
- Chieko Nakakita as Oharu
- Minoru Takada as Tokyo Defense Commander
- Shigeki Ishida as Arimura
- Naoko Sakabe as Suzue
- Kozo Nomura as
- Masao Oda as
- Yutaka Sada as
- Nadao Kirino as
- Koji Uno as
- Seiji Yoshida as
- Toshihiko Furuta as
- Kyoko Mori as Female shipping company clerk
- Teruko Mita as Imoko
- Jiro Kumagai as
- Soji Ubukatta as
- Shiro Tsuchiya as
- Keiichiro Katsumoto as
- Naoya Kusakawa as
- Wataru Omae as
- Yoshio Katsube as
- Masaki Shinohara as
- Yutaka Oka as
- Koji Abe as
- Yuko Tominaga as
- Yuki Shimizu as Female commercial company clerk
- Toshiko Nakano as Neighbor A
- Tsurue Ichimanji as Neighbor B
- Asami Hotaka as
- Howard Larson as Federal Army Staff
- Ed Keene as Alliance Commander
- Bernard Barre as Alliance Maintenance Officer
- Clifford Harlington as
- Hank Brown as Federal Army Lieutenant
- Daniel Jones as
- Ben Greenhough as
- Mike Snape as
- Roy Lessard as
- Hans Horneff as
- Harold Conway as Federal Army Firing Commander
- Osman Yusuf as
- Robert Dunham as Alliance Staff (uncredited)
- Haruo Nakajima as Policeman (uncredited)
Appearances
Weapons, Vehicles, and Races
- Federation
- Federal Missile Tank
- Nuclear Missile
- Federal Attack Submarine
- Alliance
- Allied Fighter Plane
- Allied Attack Submarine
Production
Gallery
- Main article: The Last War/Gallery.
Soundtrack
- Main article: The Last War (Soundtrack).
Alternate Titles
- World War III: the Day of Tokyo's End (第三次世界大戦 東京最後の日; Early Japanese title)[1]
- Death-Rays from Outer Space (Todesstrahlen aus dem Weltall; Germany)
- The Last War of the Apocalypse (La Dernière Guerre de l'Apocalypse; France)
Theatrical Releases
U.S. Release
Box Office
Video Releases
Videos
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Trivia
- For the scenes depicting the destruction of Tokyo, Paris, Moscow, New York, and London, Eiji Tsuburaya suggested creating miniatures out of paraffin, before it was suggested to use wafers. In a 1996 interview, miniature builder Yoshio Irie recalled "Since the destruction of the world's cities was going to be such a crucial element of [The Last War], we tried to find a substance that would produce especially convincing results when blown up. We experimented with many different materials, but found that wafers worked best. Unfortunately, we also found that mice liked to eat the wafers."[3]
- In order to combat the issue of mice eating the wafers, several of the miniatures were hung and filmed upside down, which ultimately made them look in the finished film like they were being blasted high into the air.[3]
References
This is a list of references for The Last War. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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