If you’ve watched Sergio Leone’s movies, you must know about spaghetti westerns. And if you enjoy watching spaghetti western films, then I’m sure you’ve seen the movie Red Sun (1971). The Franco-Italian spaghetti western drama film is set in 1870 and narrates the story of a gang who robbed a precious gift meant for the president of the US. In this article, I’ll discuss the film and tell you where was Red Sun filmed.
The Western drama Red Sun features American actors like Charles Bronson and stars French, Japanese, and German actors like Ursula Andress, oshirō Mifune, Capucine, and Alain Delon.
American actor Bronson was widely known for his westerns back then, but he had also been in a few action films and thriller dramas. Japanese actor Toshirō Mifune, best known for collaborating with legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, was considered one of the greatest actors ever.
Now, getting back to your primary concern regarding where was Red Sun filmed, the franco-Italian spaghetti western drama movie was filmed in Spain.
Helmed by Terence Young and written by Denne Bart Petitclerc, William Roberts, and Lawrence Roman, Red Sun was first screened on 15th September 1971 in France, followed by its release in Italy on 26th October 1971. The Western drama film was finally released in the United States on 9th June 1972. It was released digitally on 1 September 2009. Currently, the movie is available on several streaming platforms. However, let’s learn more about the movie’s filming location.
Table of Contents
Where Was Red Sun Filmed? Red Sun Filming Locations!
Terence Young’s Red Sun was a massive hit in Japan as the movie ran in theaters for thirty-five weeks. It was also a huge hit in other countries like France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. People back then never saw a spaghetti western film with a foreign cast in it. The movie received constructive reviews from critics, who were impressed with the foreign cast’s performance.
Terence Young was a versatile British filmmaker who directed movies of various genres, including westerns, romantic dramas, and action thrillers. He has also directed two James Bond movies, which featured Sean Connery in the lead. The spaghetti western drama movie got a rating of 6.8 on IMDb and a score of 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, let’s check out where was Red Sun filmed.
Spain
The spaghetti western drama film Red Sun was filmed in Spain. Even though the movie is set in America’s wild west, filming occurred in multiple locations in Spain. Most of the movie was filmed in Andalucia, an autonomous community in Spain. The region borders the country’s southern coast.
The production team filmed in different locations across Andalucia. The scene in which the gang of robbers attacked the moving train was filmed in Adra, a municipality in Almería. Gauche’s hideout scene was shot in Almería’s Cueva de Roque.
The scene where Link Stauart and Kuroda Jubei walk through the canyon was shot in Rambla de Lanujar, Gádor in Almería. Most of the desert sequences in the movie were filmed in Tabernas, a region relatively close to Almería. The river scenes were shot in Turre, and all the railroad sequences were filmed in Granada.
Only a handful of scenes, including the one involving Gauche and his henchman on a farm, were filmed in the town of Manzanares el Real in Madrid, Spain. Popular films like Lawrence Of Arabia, A Fistful Of Dollars, Conan The Barbarian, and Lost In The West were also shot in Almería, Spain.
The Plot Of Red Sun (1971) | Welcome To The Wild Wild West!
The story of Red Sun is set in 1870 and revolves around Kuroda Jubei, played by Toshirō Mifune. Kuroda is a Japanese ambassador who is traveling through the Wild West on a train along with his samurai bodyguards. He is carrying a precious and expensive Japanese ceremonial tachi sword that is meant for the US president.
Soon, a gang of robbers led by Link Stuart, played by Charles Bronson, and Gauche, played by Alain Delon, approached the moving train. The gang of robbers somehow manages to get on the train and kill a few of the samurai bodyguards. Gauche double-crosses Stuart and steals the tachi sword and other valuable things. Eventually, Kuroda joins hands with Stuart to retrieve the sword from Gauche.
Final Words
Now you know in detail about where was Red Sun filmed. Spain is a beautiful country with both natural and urban landscapes. If you’ve never been to Spain before, well, you can visit now. But do not forget to check out the filming spots I mentioned. Having said that, Red Sun is a must-watch, especially for those who are a sucker for spaghetti western dramas. Also, if you liked going through the article, please let me know in the comments section.
Is Red Sun An R-rated movie?
No, Red Sun is not an R-rated movie.
Where To Stream Red Sun Online?
You can stream Red Sun on Tubi, Prime Video, and Vudu.
Which Are The Top 3 Terence Young Movies?
Thunderball, From Russia With Love, and Wait Until Dark are the top 3 Terence Young movies.
Is Red Sun Available In Any Other Language?
Yes, Red Sun is available in Spanish and Japanese.
