Bernardo Bertolucci

The Last Emperor

The Last Emperor

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 scope of the film was, and remains, undeniably powerful—the life of Emperor Puyi, who took the throne in 1908, at age three, before witnessing decades of cultural and political upheaval within and without the walls of the Forbidden City. Recreating Qing-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.

Film Info

  • China, United Kingdom, Italy, France
  • 1987
  • 163 minutes
  • Color
  • 2.00:1/2.35:1
  • English
  • Spine #422

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

  • 4K digital restoration, presented in the aspect ratio of 2.35:1, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
  • Audio commentary featuring director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer-actor Ryuichi Sakamoto
  • 218-minute television version
  • The Italian Traveler, Bernardo Bertolucci, a film by Fernand Moszkowicz tracing the director’s geographic influences, from Parma to China
  • Footage taken by Bertolucci while on preproduction in China
  • Two documentaries about the making of the film
  • Program featuring cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, editor Gabriella Cristiani, costume designer James Acheson, and art director Gianni Silvestri
  • Archival interview with Bertolucci
  • Interviews with composer David Byrne and cultural historian Ian Buruma
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic David Thomson, a reminiscence by Bertolucci, interviews with production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti and actor Ying Ruocheng, and an essay by Fabien S. Gerard

    Cover by Lucien S. Y. Yang

Purchase Options

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

  • 4K digital restoration, presented in the aspect ratio of 2.35:1, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
  • Audio commentary featuring director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer-actor Ryuichi Sakamoto
  • 218-minute television version
  • The Italian Traveler, Bernardo Bertolucci, a film by Fernand Moszkowicz tracing the director’s geographic influences, from Parma to China
  • Footage taken by Bertolucci while on preproduction in China
  • Two documentaries about the making of the film
  • Program featuring cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, editor Gabriella Cristiani, costume designer James Acheson, and art director Gianni Silvestri
  • Archival interview with Bertolucci
  • Interviews with composer David Byrne and cultural historian Ian Buruma
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic David Thomson, a reminiscence by Bertolucci, interviews with production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti and actor Ying Ruocheng, and an essay by Fabien S. Gerard

    Cover by Lucien S. Y. Yang
The Last Emperor
Cast
John Lone
Puyi
Joan Chen
Wan Jung
Peter O’Toole
Reginald Johnston
Ying Ruocheng
The governor
Victor Wong
Chen Pao Shen
Dennis Dun
Big Li
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Amakasu
Maggie Han
Eastern Jewel
Ric Young
Interrogator
Wu Jun Mei
Wen Hsiu
Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa
Chang
Jade Go
Ar Mo
Fumihiko Ikeda
Yoshioka
Richard Vuu
Puyi (three years)
Tijger Tsou
Puyi (eight years)
Wu Tao
Puyi (fifteen years)
Fan Guang
Pu Chieh (adult)
Henry Kyi
Pu Chieh (seven years)
Alvin Riley III
Pu Chieh (fourteen years)
Lisa Lu
Tzu Hsui
Hideo Takamatsu
General Ishikari
Hajime Tachibana
Japanese translator
Basil Pao
Prince Chun
Jiang Xi Ren
Lord chamberlain
Chen Kaige
Captain of Imperial Guard
Zhang Liangbin
Big Foot
Huang Wenjie
Hunchback
Liang Dong
Lady Aisin-Gioro
Dong Zhendong
Old doctor
Dong Jiechen
Doctor
Constantine Gregory
Oculist
Soong Huaikuei
Lung Yu
Shao Ruzhen
First high consort
Li Yu
Second high consort
Li Guangli
Third high consort
Xu Chunqing
Gray Eyes
Zhang Tianmin
Old tutor
Luo Hongnian
Sleeping old tutor
Yu Shihong
Hsiao Hsiu
Wu Jun
Wen Hsiu (twelve years)
Lucia Hwong
Lady of the Book
Cui Jingping
Lady of the Pen
Wu Hai
Republican officer
Gu Junguo
Tang
Xu Tongrui
Captain of Feng’s Army
Li Fusheng
Minister of trade
Chen Shu
Chang Chinghui
Cheng Shuyan
Lady Hiro Saga
Zhang Daxing
Tough warder
Zu Ruigang
Second warder
Jin Yuan
Party boss
Akira Ikuta
Japanese doctor
Michael Vermaaten
American
Matthew Spender
Englishman
Credits
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer
Jeremy Thomas
Screenplay
Mark Peploe
Screenplay
Bernardo Bertolucci
Cinematographer
Vittorio Storaro
Editor
Gabriella Cristiani
Production designer
Ferdinando Scarfiotti
Costume designer
James Acheson
Art director
Maria-Teresa Barbasso
Art director
Gianni Giovagnoni
Art director
Gianni Silvestri
Music by
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Music by
David Byrne
Music by
Cong Su
Casting director
Joanna Merlin

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