Film review: Red Sun (1971)

Are you ready for a Spaghetti Western that features one of the Magnificent Seven teaming up with one of the Seven Samurai?  Plus the French film star who was Le Samouraï? And throw in Ursula Andress of Dr. No and La Dolce Vita fame for good measure?  Well, here it is!  It's part of the Criterion Channel's celebration of the Mighty Mifune's 100th birthday, and undoubtedly the cheesiest on offer, but we've seen most of the others.  And it's not terrible.  Basically Bronson and Delon are part of a gang that holds up a train that happens also to be carrying the Japanese ambassador, on his way to Washington DC to present a golden ceremonial Samurai sword to the president.  Delon's "Gauche" (he's left-handed), whose thick accent is explained by him being from New Orleans, spots the sword and takes it, killing one of the bodyguards in the process.  The other is Mifune, who vows to retrieve the sword and kill Gauche.  (Yes, you actually get to hear Mifune speaking English - he acquits himself well.)  Gauche also double-crosses Bronson's "Link" and leaves him for dead.  Mifune recruits Link to help him.  They have seven days or Mifune (and the ambassador) must commit hara-kiri.  Link is reluctant because he wants Gauche alive so he can squeeze him for where the money is buried, but Mifune is adamant that he must be killed immediately to pay for the death of his fellow bodyguard.  Hijinks ensue.  Andress doesn't show up until the second half when Link kidnaps her as a bargaining tool with Gauche.  She used to be with Link, but he dumped her (he's a bit of a sexist ass) and now she and Gauche make a good scheming couple.  Things are complicated by a roving band of bloodthirsty Comanche (yes, we do get to see Samurai vs. Comanche action) leading to a satisfying climax in a field of over-head-height cane.  I can't in all honesty recommend it unreservedly - it is pretty cheesy (with some jarring moments of female nudity - but remember this is a European production, and it is 1971) but Bronson and (especially) Mifune are easy company and have some good bickering exchanges, and Delon makes a satifyingly hateable villain.