THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO

Japan, 1979, 102 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

From the 1970s, Hayao Miyazaki has been considered one of the best Japanese animators. He has worked in both television and cinema, in the early years doing action adventures from Manga stories, especially with Lupin III. This film from 1979 comes from his early period and shows his enthusiasm for the Manga stories.

Lupin III is the grandson of the French criminal thief Arsene Lupin who appeared in a number of French films.

Grandson is rather reckless, a robbery in Monte Carlo with his associate, finding that the money was counterfeit and deciding to track down where it came from, the small European country of Cagliostro. He had been there in the past as is revealed, and had been tendered in his injuries by the young Princess. As he and his friend drive into the Duchy, they encounter the Princess and her attempt to escape pursuers.

The plot concerns Lupin/ Wolf and his friend discovering the burnt down castle, the new Duke and his counterfeit printing press, his plans to get rings from the Princess, marry her and have complete power.

This seems a far cry from the later Miyazaki films with their spirituality, films like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, My Neighbour Tortoro…

But, there is a lot of energy, an exaggerated villain with sinister henchmen and monstrous thugs. Lots of fights with Wolf and his associate. The Princess in a lot of peril. Her maid turning out to be an undercover agent!

There are dungeons, lots of skeletons from the murderous past, Wolf being pursued by a French detective with whom is always in conflict, then being stranded at the bottom of a well, their escape, their collaboration in fighting Cagliostro and using his plane for escape.

There are also fights on the castle battlements, the Princess falling but being caught by Wolf, and a rather dramatic fight on a series of wheels and cogs between hero and villain.

In the meantime, the detective is dismissed from investigating the counterfeit money because of all the international interests – but he goes back because his mission is always to capture Wolf.

The film was dubbed with American voices – very American, which gives the whole thing and American tone rather than on Japanese tone.

1. The popularity of Lupin III? The popularity of the Manga comics? Television programs, feature films?

2. The work of the director, his skill in animation, his earlier films and television, action adventures? Manga influences? His later going back into the history of Japan? His exploration of Japanese myths and mysticism?

3. The visual style? The characters? Reminiscent of American animation? The country of Cagliostro, the castles, bridges, the streets? The interiors of the castle? The dungeon, the skeletons? The battlements? The battle on the wheels and cogs? The escape by air? The musical score?

4. Lupin, his nickname Wolf? His associate and his sinister look, beard, black coat, hat? Their interchanges? Working together for so long? The Monte Carlo robbery, the counterfeit money? Going to Cagliostro? Wolf there in the past, the flashback and his experiences, the young Princess saving him, the large but friendly dog? The Princess, in her car, the pursuit? Wolf impeding progress, driving over the cliff’s? The Princess? Going over the cliff, falling? Her being taken by the boat?

5. Wolf and his friend, going to the city, finding out what was going on, the Duke, the castle? Going to the ruined castle, the talk with the grounds man? And his role with the Princess in the past, the dog? His later helping Wolf to recover?

6. The Duke, his planes, thugs, his monstrous creatures and their capacity for fighting? Wolf and the confrontation is? His associate and the help of the warrior?

7. The discovery of the counterfeit press? The arrival of the detective, is continually being in pursuit of? The burning the counterfeit money?

8. The Duke, his plans, control of the Princess, her greeting to marry him to save others?

9. The detective and Wolf, in the dungeon, the skeletons, swimming to safety?

10. Wolf and his injuries, his being tempted, his memories of the past? He is eating up beach to get strength?

11. The news of the wedding, the Vatican sending the Archbishop, his arrival, being helped by Wolf and his friends?

12. The wedding ceremony, the Catholic tones, the Chapel, the signs of the cross? The Archbishop and his kindness, the ceremony? Wolf and his voice, the false image, the threats? His being disguised as the Archbishop?

13. The final confrontations, the plane, the flights, the detective, the maid and her disguise, her being a warrior, the guns, the reporting for the media? Everybody helping the others?

14. The detective going to the International heads, their denying everything because of their complicity with the counterfeit money and the Duke?

15. The detective, his return, the plans and the fighting, Wolf on the battlements, the Princess falling, his catching her? His fighting with the Duke on the cogs of the wheels?

16. Peace after the burning down of the Castle, the defeat of the Duke? And going off to further adventures?