Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Theatrical Release: 12/09/1987(USA)
Release Date: 11/06/2001
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/Por/Japanese
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: 5.1/2
Run Time: 153 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video

Based on J.G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun stars Christian Bale as a spoiled young British boy, living with his wealthy family in pre-World War II Shanghai. During the Japanese invasion, Bale is separated from his parents. With the help of soldier-of-fortune John Malkovich, Bale learns to survive without a retinue of servants at his beck and call. By the time Malkovich and Bale are tossed into a Japanese prison camp, the boy has picked up enough street-smarts and developed enough intestinal fortitude to regard his imprisonment as an exciting adventure. The story ends during the 1945 liberation: on the verge of manhood, the 13-year-old Bale will never again be the pampered, privileged brat whom we met in the early scenes.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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Cast:
Christian Bale - Jim Graham
John Malkovich - Basie
Miranda Richardson - Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers - Dr. Rawlins
Joe Pantoliano - Frank Demerest
Leslie Phillips - Maxton
Masato Ibu - Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richard - Jim's Mother
Rupert Frazer - Jim's Father
Peter Gale - Mr. Victor
Takatoro Kataoka - Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Ben Stiller - Dainty
David Neidorf - Tiptree
Ralph Seymour - Cohen
Robert Stephens - Mr. Lockwood

Production:
Steven Spielberg - Director
Kathleen Kennedy Frank Marshall Steven Spielberg - Producer
John Williams - Composer
Menno Meyjes Tom Stoppard - Screen Writer
Harry Cordwell Michael Ford - Set Designer
Charles Bishop - Art Director
Fred Hole - Art Director
Huang Qia Gui - Art Director
Maurice Fowler - Art Director
Norman Dorme - Art Director
Chris Kenny - Associate Producer
J.G. Ballard - Book Author
Michael Roberts - Camera Operator
Jane Feinberg - Casting
Judy Taylor - Casting
Maggie Cartier - Casting
Mike Fenton - Casting
Yuriko Matsubara - Casting
Allen Daviau - Cinematographer
Bob Ringwood - Costume Designer
Peter Childs - Draftsman
Robert Shapiro - Executive Producer
Eric Maschwitz - Featured Music
Jimmy Kennedy - Featured Music
David Tomblin - First Assistant Director
Kevin Bartnof - Foley Artist
Paul Engelen - Makeup
Gavin Bocquet - Production Designer
Rick Carter - Production Designer
Frank Marshall - Second Unit Director
James Devis - Second Unit Director Of Photography
Harry Link - Songwriter
Jack Strachey - Songwriter
Manning Sherwin - Songwriter
Michael Carr - Songwriter
Colin Charles - Sound/Sound Designer
Tony Dawe - Sound/Sound Designer
Antonio Parra - Special Effects
David Watkin - Special Effects
Dennis Muren - Special Effects
Industrial Light & Magic - Special Effects
Kit West - Special Effects
Michael Pangrazio - Special Effects
Ye Mao Gen - Special Effects
Kit West - Special Effects Supervisor
Vic Armstrong - Stunts
Charles Bishop - Supervising Art Director
Maurice Fowler - Supervising Art Director
Norman Dorme - Supervising Art Director
John Boyde - Sound/Sound Designer

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