''Mastermind'' is a 1976 Japanese-American

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by Alex March and starring Zero Mostel, Keiko Kishi and Gawn Grainger. Filmed in 1969, it sat on the shelf for seven years before receiving a limited theatrical release in 1976. It has developed a

cult following A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The latter is often called a cult classic. A film, boo ...

since its release on home video. The second of producer Malcolm Stuart's two-picture deal with screenwriter,

William Peter Blatty William Peter Blatty (January 7, 1928 – January 12, 2017) was an American writer, director and producer. He is best known for his 1971 novel ''The Exorcist (novel), The Exorcist'' and for his screenplay for The Exorcist, the 1973 film adaptat ...

, the project was inspired by the success of the 1964

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show''. Sellers featured on a number of hit comi ...

comedy '' A Shot in the Dark'' which Blatty had co-written with producer/director

Blake Edwards Blake Edwards (born William Blake Crump; July 26, 1922 – December 15, 2010) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Edwards began his career in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon began writing screenplays and radio scripts ...

. Blatty's script was drastically revised by Ian McLellan Hunter prior to production, and the disgruntled screenwriter chose the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

Terence Clyne for his screen credit. By 1973 it had recorded a loss of $2.9 million. Blatty's original screenplay was published as part of a limited edition collection by Lonely Road Books in 2013 as ''Five Lost Screenplays by William Peter Blatty''.

Plot

Zero Mostel plays an inspector on the trail of criminals who have captured a robot called Schatzi played by Felix Sillas. The inspector has delusions that he is a great Samurai warrior and the film flashes back and forth between present day and ancient times.

Cast

* Zero Mostel as Inspector Hoku Ichihara * Keiko Kishi as Nikki Kono * Gawn Grainger as Nigel Crouchback *

Bradford Dillman Bradford Dillman (April 14, 1930 – January 16, 2018) was an American actor and author. Early life Bradford Dillman was born on April 14, 1930, in San Francisco, the son of Dean Dillman, a stockbroker, and Josephine (née Moore). Bradford's pat ...

as Jabez Link *

Jules Munshin Jules Munshin (February 22, 1915 – February 19, 1970) was an American actor, comedian and singer who had made his name on Broadway when he starred in '' Call Me Mister''. His additional Broadway credits include '' The Gay Life'' and '' Ba ...

as Israeli Agent #1 * Furankî Sakai as Captain Yamada (as Frankie Sakai) * Sorrell Booke as Max Engstrom * Zaldy Zshornack as Officer Abe * Felix Silla as Schatzi * Phil Leeds as Israeli Agent #2 * Kichi Taki as The Monk * Tetsu Nakamura as Mr. Hiruta (as Satoshi Nakamura) * Chikako Natsumi as Yoko Hara * Larry Ohashi as Police Commissioner * Masanobu Wada as Hori * Wataru Omae as Kozo (as Kin Omae) * Renate Mannhardt as Bertha Tors

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=0074877, title=Mastermind 1976 films 1970s parody films 1970s mystery films American parody films Comedy mystery films Films with screenplays by William Peter Blatty Films scored by Fred Karlin Films set in Japan 1976 comedy films Japan in non-Japanese culture 1970s English-language films 1970s American films English-language mystery films