Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

2h 4min

Drama

History

War

Island of Java, 1942, during World War II. British Major Jack Celliers arrives at a Japanese prison camp, run by the strict Captain Yonoi. Colonel John Lawrence, who has a profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and Sergeant Hara, brutal and simpleton, will witness the struggle of wills between two men from very different backgrounds who are tragically destined to clash.

Production Companies

Recorded Picture Company

National Film Trustee Company

Antares-Nova

Oshima Productions

Broadbank Investments

Asahi Broadcasting Corporation

Cast

David Bowie

David Bowie

Celliers
Tom Conti

Tom Conti

Lawrence
James Malcolm

James Malcolm

Celliers' Brother
Chris Broun

Chris Broun

Celliers (12 Years)
Yuya Uchida

Yuya Uchida

Commandant of Military Prison
Ryūnosuke Kaneda

Ryūnosuke Kaneda

President of the Court
Takashi Naito

Takashi Naito

Lieutenant Iwata
Tamio Ishikura

Tamio Ishikura

Prosecutor
Rokkō Toura

Rokkō Toura

Interpreter
Kan Mikami

Kan Mikami

Lieutenant Itō
Yūji Honma

Yūji Honma

PFC Yajima
Daisuke Iijima

Daisuke Iijima

Corporal Ueki
Hideo Murota

Hideo Murota

New Commandant of Camp
Barry Dorking

Barry Dorking

Chief Doctor
Geoff Clendon

Geoff Clendon

Australian Doctor
Grant Bridger

Grant Bridger

P.O.W. Officer
Richard Adams

Richard Adams

P.O.W. #1
Geoff Allen

Geoff Allen

P.O.W. #2
Mark Berg

Mark Berg

P.O.W. #4
Colin Francis

Colin Francis

P.O.W. #6
Richard Hoare

Richard Hoare

P.O.W. #8
Rob Jayne

Rob Jayne

P.O.W. #10
Richard Mills

Richard Mills

P.O.W. #11
Mark Penrose

Mark Penrose

P.O.W. #12
Arthur Ranford

Arthur Ranford

P.O.W. #13
Steve Smith

Steve Smith

P.O.W. #14
Stephen Taylor

Stephen Taylor

P.O.W. #15
Ian Miller

Ian Miller

English Guard
Yōichi Iijima

Yōichi Iijima

Japanese Soldier #1
Satoshi Itō

Satoshi Itō

Japanese Soldier #2
Masaki Kusakabe

Masaki Kusakabe

Japanese Soldier #3
Kunihide Kuruma

Kunihide Kuruma

Japanese Soldier #4
Hiroshi Mikami

Hiroshi Mikami

Japanese Soldier #5
Akihiro Masuda

Akihiro Masuda

Japanese Soldier #6
Tokuhisa Masuda

Tokuhisa Masuda

Japanese Soldier #7
Takeshi Nagasawa

Takeshi Nagasawa

Japanese Soldier #8
Takashi Odashima

Takashi Odashima

Japanese Soldier #9
Masanori Okada

Masanori Okada

Japanese Soldier #10
Shoetsu Sato

Shoetsu Sato

Japanese Soldier #11
Rintaro Shibata

Rintaro Shibata

Japanese Soldier #12
Masamichi Shibasaki

Masamichi Shibasaki

Japanese Soldier #13
Kaname Shimura

Kaname Shimura

Japanese Soldier #14
Kenzo Shirahama

Kenzo Shirahama

Japanese Soldier #15
Hisao Takeda

Hisao Takeda

Japanese Soldier #16
Hidenobu Togo

Hidenobu Togo

Japanese Soldier #17
Atsuo Yamashita

Atsuo Yamashita

Japanese Soldier #18
Heiwa Yoshihara

Heiwa Yoshihara

Japanese Soldier #19
Takeshi Yū

Takeshi Yū

Japanese Soldier #20

Release date

28th May 1983

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English, 日本語