ESPY (film)
Encyclopedia
is a 1974 film based on the novel of the same name by Sakyo Komatsu
. The film was directed by Jun Fukuda
from a screenplay by Ei Ogawa. It stars Masao Kusakari, Kaoru Yumi
, Tomisaburo Wakayama
, and Eiji Okada
. The film was released to U.S. television under the title E.S.P./Spy, which remained onscreen for its VHS release under the international title, ESPY.
, psychokinesis
, and other special mental abilities to fight crime. The major villain is Wolf (Wakayama), whose behavior stems as a result of the prejudicial murder of his father over his father's psychic abilities.
Sakyo Komatsu
was a Japanese science fiction writer and screenwriter. He was one of the most well known and highly regarded science fiction writers in Japan.-Early life:...
. The film was directed by Jun Fukuda
Jun Fukuda
, was a Japanese director. He was born in Manchuria. He has directed dozens of films, perhaps best known for his contributions to the Godzilla film series in the 1970s...
from a screenplay by Ei Ogawa. It stars Masao Kusakari, Kaoru Yumi
Kaoru Yumi
is a Japanese actress.-Biography:In junior high school, Kaoru joined the Nishino ballet group. She gained popularity with her appearance in the 1967 program Re Gaaruzu with Katsuko Kanai and Etsuko Nami in a mini-skirt number. In 1973, she did her first nude scene in the movie . In the same...
, Tomisaburo Wakayama
Tomisaburo Wakayama
, born Masaru Okumura, was a Japanese actor, best known for playing Ogami Ittō, the scowling, 17th century ronin warrior in the six Lone Wolf and Cub samurai movies.-Biography:...
, and Eiji Okada
Eiji Okada
Eiji Okada was a Japanese film actor. Okada served in the Japanese army during World War II, and was a miner and traveling salesman before becoming an actor....
. The film was released to U.S. television under the title E.S.P./Spy, which remained onscreen for its VHS release under the international title, ESPY.
Plot
The film deals with the recruitment of racecar driver Jiro Miki (Kusakari) and his dog, Cheetah, to a group of people who use ESPExtra-sensory perception
Extrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind. The term was coined by Frederic Myers, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairaudience, and...
, psychokinesis
Psychokinesis
The term psychokinesis , also referred to as telekinesis with respect to strictly describing movement of matter, sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term...
, and other special mental abilities to fight crime. The major villain is Wolf (Wakayama), whose behavior stems as a result of the prejudicial murder of his father over his father's psychic abilities.
Cast
- Yoshio Tamura ......... Hiroshi Fujioka
- Maria Harada ......... Kaoru Yumi
- Jirou Miki ........ Masao Kusakari
- Houjou ........ Yuuzou Kayama
- Wolf ....... Tomisaburo Wakayama
- Gorou Tatsumi ...... Katsumasa Uchida
- Prime minister of Baltonia ........ Steve Green
- Sarabad ........ Eiji Okada
- Teraoka ........ Gorou Mutsumi
- Godnof ....... Jimmy Show
- United Nations negotiation committee member Ａ ........ Roger woode
- United Nations negotiation committee member Ｂ ........ Annest harness
- Ｐ・Ｂ ......... Andrew HughesAndrew HughesAndrew Hughes may refer to:*Andrew Hughes , Fijian Commissioner of Police*Andrew Hughes *Andrew Hughes, musicologist, see List of University of Toronto people*Andrew Hughes...
- Abdullah ......... Willie Dorsey
- Bohl ......... Hatsuo Yamaya
- Gyaku-ESPY（Counter ESPY） A .......... Ralph Jesser
- Gyaku-ESPY（Counter ESPY） B ......... Gelmal Riner
- Gyaku-ESPY（Counter ESPY） C ......... Franz GruberFranz Gruber (actor)Franz Gruber was an actor who played in the Japanese Tokusatsu movie/TV productions .See also:*Peggy Neal - actress*Terror Beneath the Sea - 1966 film....
- Gyaku-ESPY（Counter ESPY） D ......... Burt Johansson
- Secretary prime minister Baltonia ......... Jan Dickene
- Prime minister guards official Baltonia ..........Gunter Grave
- Captain special passenger plane ........ Robert DunhamRobert DunhamRobert Dunham was an American actor, entrepreneur, writer, racecar driver, and a US Marine. He is probably best known for his role as Antonio, Emperor of Seatopia in Godzilla vs. Megalon ; Dunham's biggest role would be that of Mark Jackson in the Japanese film, Dogora and Captain Martin in The...
- Special passenger plane vice-captain ......... Henry
- Miki of boyhood ......... Julie Club
- Judy ........ Runa TakamuraRuna Takamurawas a J-pop singer, actress, and dancer of Japanese and German descent.Takamura was a member of , a musical group promoted by Watanabe Productions, composed of young women of mixed Japanese and foreign ancestry who sang and go-go danced on the Fuji TV show BEAT POP...
- Judy of girlhood ........ Kelly Vancis