The Last Emperor (1987)

Hemdale Film Corporation, Recorded Picture Company

The story of the final Emperor of China.

"The Last Emperor" is a 1987 British-Italian epic biographical drama film about the life of Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures. Pu Yi's life is depicted from his ascent to the throne as a small boy to his imprisonment and political rehabilitation by the Communist Party of China.

The film stars John Lone as Pu Yi, with Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Ruocheng Ying, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Maggie Han, Ric Young, Vivian Wu, and Chen Kaige. Four actors played Pu Yi from age 3, 8, 15, and adult. It was the first Western feature film authorized by the People's Republic of China to film in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Genre': Biography, Drama, History
Release date: April 15, 1988 (US)

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Cast: John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Ruocheng Ying, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Maggie Han, Ric Young, Vivian Wu, Chen Kaige, Richard Vuu, Tsou Tijger, Tao Wui

Distributed by: Columbia Pictures

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