SEVEN NIGHTS IN JAPAN

UK, 1976, 104 minutes, Colour.
Michael York, Hidemi Aoki, Peter Jones, Charles Gray, Yolande Donlan, James Villiers.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert.

Seven Nights in Japan was allegedly based on Prince Charles. It tells the story of a prince who gets away from Europe by visiting Japan and falls in love with a tour guide (Hidemi Aoki). There is a subplot about an assassination attempt on the prince.

The film has the light touch, is romantic, is very much a tourist film of Japan. It was written by Charles Wood who wrote four of the Confessions of … series as well as two James Bond films, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. It was directed by veteran Lewis Gilbert who directed a number of stiff-upper-lip British films of the 1950s and also directed a number of James Bond films including You Only Live Twice. Michael York fits the part of the prince.

1. An entertaining British soap opera? For whom was the film made?

2. Japanese scenery, locations, the picture postcard tone of the film - appropriate or not for this kind of film?

3. Expectations of the characters and the incidents from the actual royal family of England? How well did the film represent the parallel situations, Prince George and Prince Charles, the various pressures on the Prince, his behaviour? (Did the screen-writers have the right to make such parallels - in good taste, fairly?)

4. The treatment of the film: mocking, serious, comic, mock-serious, romantic, sentimental? The assassination attempt sequences? How well did the film blend the various approaches to its plot and characters?

5. The introduction of the Navy, its responsibility, Prince George's place there, the naval characters especially the Captain? The contrast of life on the ship with royal visits, inspections? Protocol and decorum? The transition to the Ambassador and his family, his wife and her idea of entertaining, Jane and her down-to-earth attitudes?

6. Michael York’s style as Prince George? As a person, as a member of the royal family? His coping with protocol, parades, good manners, inspections, factory visits?

7. The portrait of royal receptions and the types there? The hoped-for romance with Jane? Jane’s later help for the Prince in his difficulties?

8. How relieved was the audience when the Prince escaped from the Ambassador's house? His visit to the Ginza district, the night clubs, the bogus champagne, the fights, his not having any money? His escape?

9. The introduction to Sumi? The tourist bus, her song? Her hospitality but her not inviting him to her bed? The change with his reappearance, the tour, the second night?

10. How deep was their love? The repercussions of his leave? (The phone calls to his mother?)

11. The idyllic time in Kyoto? The house and her introduction to it? The children, their love? The romantic style, the scenery, the lush atmosphere, Japanese customs?

12. How well portrayed were the characters of George and Sumi? Did they develop during the film or did they follow expected lines? Sumi’s response to George as a person, not knowing his identity?

13. How was the end of the affair inevitable? Sumi’s discovery of his identity, her decision to leave, her attitude towards his duty? The effect on George? His return, his gratitude towards Sumi?

14. How interesting was the sub-plot about the assassination attempts and the attempts at action drama? How well were they integrated into the rest of the film? The comic touch even though intended to be serious?

15. Sentiment in the car passing with George in full regalia and Sumi at her work? The significance of the glance and final contact?

16. How much was the film a fantasy, a modern fairy story blended with the harsh expectations of reality? Escapism, a pleasant and enjoyable ‘woman's film’?