The Red Spectacles (1987): Cast & Plot
The Red Spectacles is a 1987 sci-fi comedy directed by Mamoru Oshii, starring Mako Hyodo as Young Lady, Shigeru Chiba and Machiko Washio. It runs 1 hour 56 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 56m (116 min)
- Director
- Mamoru Oshii
- Original language
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Japanese - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Red Spectacles About?
The premise of The Red Spectacles without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In the summer of 1995, the arrival of the “Age of Cats” leads to the disbanding of the Kerberos police unit. One former member, a lone stray dog, returns to his old headquarters after three years of exile. No longer tied to a master, he is now guided by the enigmatic “Young Lady of Fate” as he embarks on his journey.
The Red Spectacles Themes & Keywords
· 22 tags- japanese
- human dog
- police
- human animal
- man animal
- japanese police
- dog
- unit
- disbanded
- pig
- 1990s
- dystopia
+10 more Show fewer
- cinema
- movie theater
- surrealism
- suitcase
- food poisoning
- dream sequence
- dark comedy
- cyberpunk
- anomie
- surprise ending
The Red Spectacles Cast & Characters
Mako Hyodo leads the cast as Young Lady, with Shigeru Chiba as Koichi Todome and Machiko Washio as Midori Washio. Directed by Mamoru Oshii; 27 actors are credited in all.
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Director Mamoru Oshii
- Mako Hyodo as Young Lady
- Shigeru Chiba as Koichi Todome
-
Machiko Washio as Midori Washio - Hideyuki Tanaka as Soichiro Toribe
Also Starring in The Red Spectacles
· 23 more- Tessyo Genda Bunmei Muroto
- Fumihiko Tachiki Bunmei's Minion
- Ichiro Nagai Billiards Man
- Toshio Furukawa Yakuza B
- Hideyo Amamoto Moongaze Ginji
- Takeshi Kusao Corpse (uncredited)
- Fumi Hirano Airport Announcer
- Daiki Nakamura Bunmei's Minion
- Tomohiro Nishimura Punk
- Hidetoshi Nakamura Bunmei's Minion
- Yasuo Otsuka Taxi Driver
- Naoyuki Yoshinaga Bodyguard
- Takashi Kanematsu Yakuza A
- Fuyuki Shinada Soba Shop Manager
- Takahiro Hirai Bunmei's Minion
- Zenchû Mitsui Bunmei's Minion
Show all 27 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Hirô Oikawa Hotel Receptionist
- Kintaro Sakata Umibozu
- Takeyuki Funato Bunmei's Minion
- Mitsuhiro Uwabe Bunmei's Minion
- Kazuo Tauchi Pool Hall Bartender
- Norio Kurisaki Pilot
- Takayoshi Ito Cat
More from Mamoru Oshii
More films directed by Mamoru Oshii, best-rated first: Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Angel's Egg (1985) and I Can’t Stop Biting You.
The Red Spectacles Plot Summary
What happens in The Red Spectacles from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the 20th century, Tokyo faces a surge of crime that even the police struggle to contain. In response, the city’s police force creates an extreme, heavily armed unit called the Anti Vicious Crime Heavily Armored Mobile Special Investigations Unit, known as Kerberos, equipped with machine guns and reinforced gear to wage a relentless war against crime and evil. At first, Kerberos appears to be successful, but as the 1990s approach, the unit’s zeal deteriorates into aggression, cruelty, and corruption. When a member beats a misdemeanor offender to death, public outrage erupts and the unit is disbanded. Three elite members—Koichi Todome, Shigeru Chiba, Midori Washio, Machiko Washio, and Soichirō Toribe, Hideyuki Tanaka—refuse to lay down their weapons and flee to the Port of Tokyo, planning to escape by helicopter.
Full summary
The whole story of The Red Spectacles, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Red Spectacles?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the heavily armed police unit created to fight crime in Tokyo?
The Red Spectacles Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Jigoku no banken: akai megane” and “La Brigade des Loups - The Red Spectacles”.
- Also known as
-
- Jigoku no banken: akai megane
- La Brigade des Loups - The Red Spectacles
- Красные очки
- 红眼镜
- 붉은 안경
- ล่าตำรวจคืนถิ่น
- 紅眼鏡
Seen The Red Spectacles?
Movies Like The Red Spectacles
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Red Lion, Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops and Return Of Red Tiger.
The Red Spectacles FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Red Spectacles, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Red Spectacles?
The Red Spectacles runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).
When was The Red Spectacles released?
The Red Spectacles was released on February 7, 1987.
Who directed The Red Spectacles?
The Red Spectacles was directed by Mamoru Oshii.
More films by Mamoru Oshii Who is in the cast of The Red Spectacles?
The Red Spectacles stars Mako Hyodo as Young Lady, Shigeru Chiba as Koichi Todome and Machiko Washio as Midori Washio, among 27 credited actors.
Does The Red Spectacles have a post-credit scene?
No. The Red Spectacles has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Red Spectacles in?
The original language of The Red Spectacles is Japanese.
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