MovieChat Forums > Shogun (1980) Discussion > Chamberlain -- WRONG!!!!

Chamberlain -- WRONG!!!!

posted 16 years ago by marjoriem
40 replies | jump to latest

The mini series would have been so much better with a different Blackthorne.

At the time, though, Chamberlain was sort of the King of the Period Mini Series so he always seemed to get these roles despite the fact that, although good-looking enough he was boring and wooden as an actor. He was OK as the priest in Thornbirds -- but not for Shogun.

He was just WRONG as Blackthorne. Blackthorne was basically an Elizabethan buccaneer of the Francis Drake type. Quite a bit more learned than the average buccaneer, of course, because of his training, and could be both silky-smooth and rough-hewn, depending on what was needed, but he needed to have the underlying toughness.

Chamberlain had the smoothness, but little of the sheer toughness and virility needed for the role. Do you see Chamberlain controlling a bunch of restive sailors across thousands of miles of ocean? Or imposing his authority by sheer personality and ingenuity on a violent and militaristic culture, once he reaches Japan?

I remember reading somewhere that Sean Connery was considered for the role. I don't recall whether they decided not to ask him, or whether he turned it down. It would have been so much better with Connery.

[–] ObscureAuteur 10 years ago

I thought Chamberlain was fine in the role. The end product was not damaged by his presence. He was hardly indispensable. That honor, if given, goes to Toshiro Mifune. Still, it is not outrageous to assert that a few other actors would have done at least as well or better, although only a few had the high profile of Chamberlain on TV or Connery if that is considered important.

If you read the book, you would not compare Blackthorne to Drake. Blackthorne with all credit to his strength and character is a tech who accidentally inherits responsibility for his crew and serves them as best he can, where Drake is a self-serving political entrepreneur. This is why Caradoc advises him not to get into any projects with Drake, who always returns to collect the glory and some loot but many ships and most of the crew do not.

CB

Good Times, Noodle Salad

[–] nostarg-91016 10 years ago

I liked Chamberlain but Connery would have been all wrong for the part. IF you want a British actor I would suggest Robert Powell who had proved he could carry a mini-series when he played the lead in Jesus of Nazareth. One other name springs to mind, Timothy Dalton who was the first choice to take over the Bond franchise when Connery quit and Moore took over.

[–] Ehrgeiz 9 years ago

I think Chamberlain was not the best part of this. I would have preferred a more rugged type in this role, Steve McQueen-style; Chamberlain somehow did not come off as the weathered mariner.
Still, all the other actors more than made up for it and Chamberlain was also not so bad that it damaged the series.

[–] b5erik 8 years ago

Chamberlain was fine in the role. He clearly worked hard and captured the spirit of the character well. Connery would have been better at some things, worse at others.

Roger Moore was also considered, but turned it down (guess they wanted James Bond to play Blackthorne). He would have been OK, but not perfect.

Someone mentioned Timothy Dalton, who would have been a spectacular Blackthorne, he but was completely unknown to American audiences at that time, and it was mentioned in the Making Of documentary that the studio and producers wanted someone fairly well known in the role.

Ultimately, for who they could get, Chamberlain was a good choice.

[–] overseas7 (5071) 5 years ago

He was fine

[–] whoanelly (1592) 4 years ago

Timothy Dalton, I just can’t see it; he is too much the same type as Chamberlain. Ditto Anthony Andrews.

In my head, I have pictured Blackthorne as Richard Burton when he played Petruchio in Zefferelli’s The Taming of the Shrew.

English actors who were playing “manly” roles on tv in that period:

Stuart Wilson — virtually unknown to US network tv viewers, but definitely a name among fans of PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre.

Patrick Stewart — had recently played Sejanus, a roman soldier and womanizer in I, Claudius.

Christopher Cazenove — too unknown, at that time, to US audiences

Charles Dance — also too unknown

[–] LetoAtreides (581) 2 years ago

Thank god it wasn't Connery. I don't recall ever seeing him act gentle with a woman, he's always been the uber macho since James Bond. It wouldn't have worked with Mariko.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

Verbose. Boring. Ya’ll need to get laid, but no one wants to fuck you.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Masturbating and trolling does not work for you.
Your trail of thought is all over the place.
Pick one or the other.

[–] nyctc7 (44116) 2 years ago

I very much like Chamberlain in the role. I thought he did a great job.