The Challenge

"He has trained every thought, every muscle, every nerve, for the moment of truth!"

1982 1h 49m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 53

ActionDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Rick, a down-and-out American boxer, is hired to transport a sword to Japan, unaware that the whole thing is a set up in a bitter blood-feud between two brothers, one who follows the traditional path of the samurai and the other a businessman. At the behest of the businessman, Rick undertakes samurai training from the other brother, but joins his cause. He also becomes romantically involved with the samurai's daughter.

“He has trained every thought, every muscle, every nerve, for the moment of truth!”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Scott Glenn
Rick
Toshirō Mifune
Toru Yoshida
Donna Kei Benz
Akiko Yoshida
Atsuo Nakamura
Hideo Yoshida
Calvin Jung
Ando
Clyde Kusatsu
Go
Sab Shimono
Toshio Yoshida
Kiyoaki Nagai
Kubo

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Frankenheimer
Writers: Ivan Moffat, John Sayles, Richard Maxwell
Languages: Japanese, English
Countries: Japan, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Japanese, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Japan, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Frankenheimer, shot by Kōzō Okazaki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by Jerry Goldsmith. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John W. Wheeler shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Scott Glenn and Toshirō Mifune and Donna Kei Benz carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He has trained every thought, every muscle, every nerve, for the moment of truth!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Frankenheimer directs. Kōzō Okazaki behind the camera. Jerry Goldsmith scores. John W. Wheeler cuts. Produced in Japan, United States of America. Dialogue in Japanese, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

144 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Japanese, English.
3International production across 2 countries: Japan, United States of America.
4Directed by John Frankenheimer, shot by Kōzō Okazaki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jerry Goldsmith. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor John W. Wheeler shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Scott Glenn and Toshirō Mifune and Donna Kei Benz carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "He has trained every thought, every muscle, every nerve, for the moment of truth!".
9IMDB entry: tt0083726 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 53 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.