The Last Emperor
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci • 1987 • China
Starring John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole
Bernardo Bertolucci’s THE LAST EMPEROR won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated—quite a feat for a challenging, multilayered epic directed by an Italian and starring an international cast. Yet the power and scope of the film was, and remains, undeniable—the life of Emperor Pu Yi, who took the throne at age three, in 1908, before witnessing decades of cultural and political upheaval, within and without the walls of the Forbidden City. Recreating Ching dynasty China with astonishing detail and unparalleled craftsmanship by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti, THE LAST EMPEROR is also an intimate character study of one man reconciling personal responsibility and political legacy.
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The Last Emperor
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci • 1987 • China
Starring John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'TooleBernardo Bertolucci’s THE LAST EMPEROR won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated—quite a feat for a challenging, multilayered epic directed by an Italian and ...
Extras
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THE LAST EMPEROR Commentary
This commentary features director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer-actor Ryuichi Sakamoto. It was produced by Mark Rance and was recorded in 2003 and 2007.
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THE LAST EMPEROR Television Version
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The Italian Traveler, Bernardo Bertolucci
In 1984, after his project RED HARVEST fell through, director Bernardo Bertolucci made a decision to go east instead of west—which led him to China and the making of THE LAST EMPEROR. This film by Fernand Moszkowicz (assistant director on LAST TANGO IN PARIS) explores the director’s journey.
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Postcards from China
In 1985, Bernardo Bertolucci went with a crew to China in search of faces, landscapes, and atmosphere for THE LAST EMPEROR. These video postcards, filmed by the director himself, offer a taste of that journey.
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Bernardo Bertolucci’s Chinese Adventure
Filmmaker Paolo Brunatto made this documentary in 1986, while on the set of THE LAST EMPEROR.
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Making THE LAST EMPEROR
THE LAST EMPEROR swept the technical Oscars in 1988. This 2009 documentary features interviews with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, editor Gabriella Cristiana, costume designer James Acheson, and art director Gianni Silvestri, who worked closely with the late production designer Ferdinando “Nan...
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“The South Bank Show”: Bernardo Bertolucci
This episode of Britain’s “The South Bank Show,” shot on location in Beijing, explores director Bernardo Bertolucci’s creative process and the making of THE LAST EMPEROR.
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David Byrne on THE LAST EMPEROR
This interview with composer David Byrne was recorded in November 2007 in New York City.
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THE LAST EMPEROR: Beyond the Forbidden City
In the first half of the twentieth century, China was plagued by constant violence, both internal and from foreign powers. Here cultural historian Ian Buruma briefly examines some of the key events and figures concurrent with the life and reign of Pu Yi.
