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RUNTIME
Did you know
Tight 70-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Samurai
"Lawyer by day -- Samurai warrior by night. Justice will be done."
1979 1h 10m EN
🤯
9.0
MASTERPIECE
★9.0TMDB · 1
ActionCrimeAdventureTV MovieScience Fiction
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Lee Cantrell, a young San Francisco attorney by day, at night becomes a samurai warrior, and battles a crazed multi-millionaire who is planning to destroy the city with an earthquake machine.
“Lawyer by day -- Samurai warrior by night. Justice will be done.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Joe Penny
Lee Cantrell
Dana Elcar
Frank Boyd
Beulah Quo
Hana Mitsubishi Cantrell
James Shigeta
Takeo Chisato
Charles Cioffi
Amory Bryson
Geoffrey Lewis
Harold Tigner
Norman Alden
Lt. Al DeNisco
Morgan Brittany
Cathy Berman
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Lee H. Katzin
- Writers
- Jerrold L. Ludwig
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- 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 🍿
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Lee H. Katzin directs. Fred Karlin scores. Albert J.J. Zúñiga cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Tight 70-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
- 247 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Original score by Fred Karlin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor Albert J.J. Zúñiga shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Joe Penny and Dana Elcar and Beulah Quo carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "Lawyer by day -- Samurai warrior by night. Justice will be done.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0078201 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Original score
- Fred Karlin
- Editing
- Albert J.J. Zúñiga
- Costume design
- Darryl Martell
- Runtime
- 70 min · 1h 10m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- IMDB
- Samurai (1979)
Also by
Lee H. Katzin
Production companies
Who made it
- TH
The Lamas Corporation
- DA
Danny Thomas Productions
Universal Television
US
Key crew
- Art DirectionPaul Peters
- Costume DesignDarryl Martell
- Set DecorationAnthony C. Montenaro
- Executive ProducerDanny Thomas
- Executive ProducerFernando Lamas
- Executive ProducerRonald Jacobs
- CinematographyVincent A. Martinelli
- EditorAlbert J.J. Zúñiga
- ProducerAllan Balter
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- samurai
Release history · US
When it landed
- TV1979-04-30· ABC
