The Challenge (1982): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Challenge is a 1982 action drama directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Scott Glenn as Rick, Sab Shimono and Toshirô Mifune. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $3 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- John Frankenheimer
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Challenge About?
The premise of The Challenge without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Rick, a down‑and‑out American boxer, is hired to carry a sword to Japan, unaware that he is being drawn into a bitter blood feud between two brothers—one a traditional samurai, the other a ruthless businessman. The businessman forces Rick to train in samurai arts under the first brother, but Rick ultimately sides with the samurai and falls in love with his daughter.
The Challenge Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- sword
- samurai
- sword fight
- boxer
- japan
- showdown
- samurai sword
- martial arts
- boxing
- brother brother relationship
- opening action scene
- final showdown
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- buried up to one's neck
- buried up to the neck
- buried to the neck
- female nudity
- brief breasts
- american
- feud
- down on one's luck
- american abroad
- hand to hand combat
- shootout
- gunfight
- one against many
- one man army
- swordsman
- tough guy
- english subtitles in original
- yakuza
- toy train
- stapler
- stabbed in the chest
- knife
- jukebox
- fish market
- falling from height
- electrocution
- clip joint
- buried alive
- arrow
- archery
- 1940s
- stapling machine
- wound
- katana sword
- murder
- split head
- dinner
- sake
The Challenge Cast & Characters
Scott Glenn leads the cast as Rick, with Sab Shimono as Toshio Yoshida and Toshirô Mifune as Toru Yoshida. Directed by John Frankenheimer; 24 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John Frankenheimer
-
Scott Glenn as Rick - Sab Shimono as Toshio Yoshida
-
Toshirô Mifune as Toru Yoshida - Miiko Taka as Toru Yoshida's Wife
Also Starring in The Challenge
· 20 more- Shōgo Shimada Toru Yoshida's Father
- Atsuo Nakamura Hideo Yoshida
- Calvin Jung Ando
- Donna Kei Benz Akiko Yoshida
- Yoshio Inaba Instructor
- Seiji Miyaguchi Old Man
- Clyde Kusatsu Go
- Sanae Nakahara Cashier
- Kazunaga Tsuji Hashimoto
- Toshio Chiba Customs Officer
- Pat McNamara Fight Promoter
- Kenta Fukasaku Jiro
- Sokyu Fujita Man in Bar
- Kusuo Kita Thug
- Pamela Bowman Girl in Gym
- Kiyoaki Nagai Kubo
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Akio Kameda Boxer
- Hisashi Osaka Knifeman
- Roy Andrews Hanger-on
- Henry Celis Jorge
More from John Frankenheimer
More films directed by John Frankenheimer, best-rated first: The Manchurian Candidate, The Train, Birdman of Alcatraz and Seven Days in May.
The Challenge Plot Summary
What happens in The Challenge from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A katana, one of a pair known as The Equals, is an heirloom of the Yoshida family that travels through generations before being lost during World War II. It is eventually tracked down and recovered in California by siblings Toshio and Akiko. Their father, Toru Yoshida, hopes to see the blade back in Japan, and to this end he hires a down-on-his-luck prize fighter, Rick Murphy, to smuggle the sword home. The mission casts a shadow over the reunion of family duty and personal risk, and the journey soon becomes a test of trust, loyalty, and the meaning of honor.
Full summary
The whole story of The Challenge, scene by scene
The Challenge Box Office
The Challenge grossed $3 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$3M
- US & Canada
- $3M
How Well Do You Know The Challenge?
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
Who hires the down‑on‑his‑luck prize fighter Rick Murphy to smuggle the katana back to Japan?
Cars in The Challenge
6 cars on screen, including the 1976 Isuzu Elf Route Van and the 1979 Toyota Crown.
-
1976 Isuzu Elf Route Van Important role -
1979 Toyota Crown Important role -
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse W116 Minor role -
1978 Toyota Crown Minor role
The Challenge Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Вызов” and “Меч ниндзя”.
- Also known as
-
- Вызов
- Меч ниндзя
- 最後のサムライ／ザ・チャレンジ
- Wenn er in die Hölle will, lass ihn gehen
- L'ultima sfida
- El reto del samurái
- A hadüzenet
- Dræbende sværd
- À armes égales
- Wyzwanie
- 챌린지
- 挑战赛
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- Vyzvání k souboji
- Büyük Düello
Seen The Challenge?
Movies Like The Challenge
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Challenge, American Samurai and Challenge of Death.
The Challenge FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Challenge, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Challenge?
The Challenge runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was The Challenge released?
The Challenge was released on July 23, 1982.
Who directed The Challenge?
The Challenge was directed by John Frankenheimer.
More films by John Frankenheimer Who is in the cast of The Challenge?
The Challenge stars Scott Glenn as Rick, Sab Shimono as Toshio Yoshida and Toshirô Mifune as Toru Yoshida, among 24 credited actors.
How much did The Challenge make at the box office?
The Challenge grossed $3 million worldwide.
Does The Challenge have a post-credit scene?
No. The Challenge has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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