Kagemusha

Yokohama, Kanagawa: Kurosawa Production Co., circa 1980. Draft script for the 1980 Japanese film.

The story of a low-class criminal taught to be the decoy (or kagemusha) of a dying feudal lord, based on the historical daimyo Takeda Shingen, and depicting the 1575 Battle of Nagashino in the cinematic climax.

When Toho Studios could not afford to complete the film, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola convinced Twentieth Century Fox to cover the shortfall in exchange for international distribution rights, recieving credits as executive producers on the finished film. Nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, and winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.

Set in Sengoku period, shot on location in Iga Ueno Castle, Himeji Castle, Kumamoto Castle, Yuhara Plain, Hokkaido, Japan.

White perfect-bound wrappers. Rubber stamped copy No. 74 at the top right corner of the front wrapper. 166 leaves, with last page of text numbered "(146)." Mimeograph duplication. Pages Near Fine with light toning, wrapper Very Good, with foxing overall and age toning to the page edges.

Criterion Collection 267.

[Book #157439]