[ Men Chattering In Chinese ]
[ Men Speaking Chinese ]
[ Chinese ]
- [ Chinese ] - [ Train whistle Blows ]
[ Man on P.A. ] The war criminals will proceed in orderly fashion...
to the main waiting room and await instructions.
No talking. obey the guards
War criminals must proceed to the main waiting room.
Those caught talking will be severely punished
[ Coughs ]
[ Whispers ] The emperor.
[ All ] Your Majesty.
[ Man ] What do they think they are doing?
[ Man #2 ] Get up. It is dangerous
Go back. Go back. Go!
Are you mad? They could kill us all.
Go. Go
[ Steam Hissing ]
- open the door! - [ Banging on Door]
- open the door! - [ Knocking ]
open the door!
- [ Knocking ] - [ Speaking Chinese ]
[ Horse whinnies ]
[ Man Speaking Chinese ]
Mama.
By the command of Her Imperial Majesty...
also called the Compassionate and the Blessed..
the Respectful and the Long-living..
the Empress Dowager commands..
Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi..
son of Prince Chun...
shall be transferred immediately..
to the Forbidden City..
and will remain in the Great Within..
awaiting Her Majesty's decision
Respect this!
Ar Mo, I am giving you my son.
- My son is your son. - Quick! Quick!
- [ Man Shouts In Chinese ] - [ Sobbing ]
[ Speaking Chinese ]
[ Pu Yi ] I want to go home.
[ Ar Mo ] No. Look at the Forbidden City
[ Chanting In Chinese ]
[ Horn Blowing ]
[ Horns Blowing ]
Give him to me.
Ar Mo!
[ Chanting Continues ]
[ Woman ] Pu Yi, come here.
[ Chanting Continues In Distance ]
How small you are.
Are you afraid of me?
Everyone is.
I am the Grand Empress Dowager.
And I have lived here for a long, long time.
[ wheezing Softly ]
And they call me the old Buddha
This is Peony.
Do you like her?
Men, you know..
are not allowed in the Forbidden City after dark.
Even little men like you
The only man who can live here..
is the emperor.
But the emperor is on high...
riding the dragon now
He died today.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Coughs ]
Longevity.
[ Peony Whimpering ]
These other men — They are not real men.
They are all eunuchs.
And now they are all waiting for me to die.
That is why...
they are putting my bed in the middle ofthe room...
under the black pearl.
Little Pu Yi..
I have decided...
that you will be the new Lord of 1 0,000 Years.
You will be the Son of Heaven.
[ Cymbal Clangs ]
- [ Horns Blowing ] - [ Cymbals Clashing ]
Are we going home, Papa?
♪♪ [ Singing In Chinese ]
- ♪♪ [ Gong Crashes ] - ♪♪ [ Singing Continues ]
♪♪ [ Singing Continues ]
Shh! Shh!
Shh. It will soon be over.
[ Pu Yi ] Look!
Look.
[ Giggling ]
[ Chinese word ]
[ Speaking Chinese ]
[ Chinese Continues ]
[ Cricket Chirping ]
[ Chinese Continues ]
- [ Chirping Continues ] - [ Pu Yi Gasps ]
Cricket!
[ Chirping Continues ]
Cricket! Cricket! where's the cricket?
Ah, he is my friend, Your Majesty.
Safe and warm under my arm.
Kept me company on the longjourney here.
- [ Chirping Continues ] - Ah. See?
He is kowtowing to Your Majesty.
Now he can be the emperor's cricket.
[ Chirping ]
[ Pu Yi Giggles ]
[ Man ] Your Majesty, this is the Forbidden City
Look.
- This little one is Your Majesty's bedroom. - [ Giggles ]
- This is where we are. - Am I going home today?
Not today.
Not yet.
And here. Look. This is the Hall ofSupreme Harmony...
where Your Majesty was crowned.
[ Laughing ]
I give Your Majesty the Gate of Marshovala
I give you the Marshio Gate.
- The gate. - Yes. Yes.
And the Palace ofthe Cloudless Heaven
- [ Pu Yi Giggles ] - And — Yes.
Your Majesty, your imperial bath is ready.
I don't like baths!
I don't like baths I don't like baths
- [ Mutters ] - [ Sniffing ]
- [ Pu Yi Giggles ] - No bean curd today...
and no meat!
♪♪ [ Singing In Chinese ]
[ Pu Yi Giggling ]
[ Pu Yi ] Is it true I can do anything I want?
Ofcourse, Your Majesty.
Anything you want.
You are the Lord of 1 0,000 Years.
- [ Gasps ] - oh! Oh, no! Not in my face.
I'm the Son of Heaven! I'm the Son of Heaven!
Oh, yes! oh, yes!
I am the Son of Heaven!
Ar Mo. I want to go home.
I want to go home.
I want to go home, Ar Mo. I want to go home.
♪♪ [ Ar Mo Singing In Chinese ]
Once upon a time...
there was a great tree...
and a great wind.
And when the tree fell...
- the monkeys were scattered - [ Blowing ]
[ Train whistle Blows ]
- His soup is getting cold. - [ Chinese ]
- where am I? - In the People's Republic ofChina.
- Why did you stop me? - You are a criminal. You must bejudged.
[ Shouting In Chinese ]
[ Chattering In Chinese ]
[ Man ] I repeat!
Prisoners going to their cells will walk with their heads bowed.
Keep your eyes on the ground.
- No looking forward or to the side. - [ Fly Buzzing ]
The guards will give you directions and tell you when to turn.
[ Speaks Chinese ]
Pu Chieh.
♪♪ [ Gong Clangs ]
Your guest is waiting to meet you, Your Majesty.
Also, your mother has arrived.
You have not seen your mother for manyyears, Your Majesty.
- He is so small. - He is young, Your Majesty.
Go.
The emperor's brother, His Excellency Pu Chieh.
Ar Mo.
How is the health of His Majesty's mother?
It is better. Thankyou.
How much His Majesty has grown.
My mother has not seen me for seven years.
Do you remember my face?
No.
The night they came with the horses, I knew it would be like this.
- My brother sees you every day. - Pu Chieh is very excited to meet you.
He often talks about you.
We are all very proud ofyou.
The kite.
He chose this foryou.
[ Grunts ]
Papa!
[ Chinese word ]
[ Hissing ]
[ Hissing Continues ]
[ Pu Chieh ] They're turning away.
[ Pu Yi ] ofcourse. ordinary people are not allowed to look at the emperor.
- I'm too important. - Is it true that you can do whateveryou want?
Ofcourse I can. If I am naughty, someone else is punished.
One ofthem.
Stop!
The emperor will walk.
I have never met other children.
- Are they all like you? - I've got three sisters and two friends.
Ifyou come to our house, you can play with us.
The emperor never leaves the palace.
We play games together!
I know a game too.
Run!
- [ Both Giggling ] - [ Man Speaking Chinese ]
[ Giggling Continues ]
[ Man Speaking Chinese ]
[ Giggling Continues ]
[ Speaking Chinese ]
[ Giggling Continues ]
♪♪ [ woman Singing In Chinese ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
The ones on the boat are the high consorts.
- High consorts? - The wives ofthe emperor before me.
They say they're my mother, but they're not. They're not!
♪♪ [ Bells Ringing ]
♪♪ [ Singing Continues ]
♪♪ [ Pipa Continues ]
[ Woman Giggling, Faint ]
[ Chattering, Giggling, Faint ]
♪♪ [ Pipa Continues ]
[ Whispers ] Why are you wearing that? You are not allowed to wearyellow.
But this is ordinaryyellow.
It is imperial yellow.
No, it is not.
We say it is. Only the emperor can wear that yellow.
- Take it off. - No!
- Take it off! - No! And you're not the emperor anymore.
There is a new emperor now
He has cut off his queue. And instead ofa camel, he has got a car.
What did you say?
You're not the emperor.
Liar!
- You're not the emperor anymore! - Liar!
- You're not the —
[ Men Gasping ]
- [ Chinese ] - Liar!
- [ Chinese ] - You're not the emperor.
- Liar! - You're not the emperor!
How dare you!
- You're not the emperor! - [ Men Speaking Chinese ]
[ Man ] Please. No!
Your Majesty. Calm yourself.
- You're not the emperor! - How dare you!
[ Man ] oh, Your Majesty. Calm yourself.
Am I the emperor or not?
Your Majesty will always be the emperor.
- You see? - Prove it.
Big Foot.
Drink it.
Go on. Drink the green ink.
I will showyou!
See? That is a car. He's the president ofthe Republic.
[ Men Chattering ]
[ Rock Clatters ]
[ Crowd Murmuring ]
Why is this wall here, Lord Chamberlain?
It isjust a wall, Your Majesty. Nothing has changed.
You are lying.
High Tutor, am I still the emperor?
You will always be the emperor inside the Forbidden City...
but not outside.
I do not understand.
Outside China is now a republic...
with a president.
Where is Ar Mo?
Ar Mo.
[ Sniffles ]
You are all liars!
- Let me say good-bye! - Hurry. Hurry.
He's my child!
- [ Whimpers ] - [ Men Speaking Chinese ]
Ar Mo?
I do not understand.
Your Majesty is a big boy now. He cannot have a wet nurse anymore
It is much better like this.
Much healthier.
But she is not my wet nurse.
She is my buttefrly.
Ar Mo!
♪♪ [ Singing In Chinese ]
♪♪ [ Ends ]
This is the detention center...
ofthe Fushun Bureau of Public Security.
And I am the governor.
During the war, this was aJapanese prison
Many ofyou may remember it..
because you worked with theJapanese
You were responsible for building it..
and you filled it with innocent people
How could this happen?
Why did you betrayyour country?
What turned you into war criminals?
We believe that men are born good.
We believe that the only way to change is to discover the truth and look at it in the face.
That is whyyou are here
You will begin by writing the story ofyour lives...
and by confessing your crimes
Your salvation will lie entirely in the attitude you take.
I advise you to be frank and sincere
otherwise, things can still go very badly foryou.
[ Man Narrating ] After a fewyears...
the Chinese Republic had become as corrupt as the old empire.
It fell quickly into the hands ofambitious generals and corrupt bureaucrats.
The era ofthe warlords had begun
By May 1 91 9, when I received my appointment, China was in turmoil
- [ Chattering ] - [ Bicycle Bell Ringing ]
[ Car Horn Honks ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Horn Honking ]
[ All Speaking Chinese ]
[ Man Speaks Chinese ]
[ All Speaking Chinese ]
[ Man Continues ]
[ Horse whinnies ]
[ Man Shouts orders In Chinese ]
[ Man Shouts In Chinese ]
- [ Chinese ] - [ Man Shouts In Chinese ]
[ Chattering, Giggling ]
[ Man Speaking Chinese ]
May the new tutor present himself.
[ High Tutor ] Your Imperial Highness, the new tutor.
Mr. Reginald FlemingJohnston
How do you do, Mr.Johnston?
How do you do, Your Majesty?
[ Chuckles ]
Now we will go to school.
Your Majesty, in my country, it would be usual to begin...
with some kind ofan examination.
The emperor cannot be examined.
Well, that may have to change.
But first Your Majesty might like to ask me some questions.
Where are your ancestors buried?
In Scotland, Your Majesty.
But then, where's your skirt?
In your country, men wear short skirts, do they not?
No, Your Majesty. Scotsmen do not wear skirts. They wear kilts.
- Kilts? - Kilts.
A matter ofwords, perhaps, but words are important.
Why are words important?
Ifyou cannot say what you mean, Your Majesty, you will never mean what you say...
and a gentleman should always mean what he says.
Ah, yes. A gentleman.
Are you a gentleman?
I would like to be a gentleman, Your Majesty.
- I try to be. - I am not a gentleman.
I'm not allowed to say what I mean.
They are always telling me what to say.
Your Majesty is still veryyoung.
I thought he might like to see some English and American magazines.
I havejust received them.
I know that you know that I know..
that you know that that is a dialogue...
between Confucius and Chuang-Tsu.
Concerning respect, Your Majesty.
Who is this George washington?
A famous American, Your Majesty.
A Revolutionary general. The first American president.
Ah. Like Mr. Lenin in Russia?
Not quite.
Does he have a car?
He lived a long time ago, Your Majesty.
I want a car.
[ Squeaking ]
I thinkyour mouse is trying to escape Your Majesty.
Please do not tell anyone about my mouse.
The lesson is finished.
[ Speaks Chinese ]
[ Grunts ]
The official taster's a brave man
Many of my ancestors have been poisoned, you know.
[Johnston ] Does Your Majesty have lunch like this every day?
[ Pu Yi ] Ah, yes. Every day. Like theater.
I do not know why. It has always been like that
How do they kill emperors in the West?
The Austrian emperor was shot was he not?
No. But his nephew was assassinated before the Great War.
But the Russian emperor has been shot. He was called a czar.
Yes.
He took lots ofour land in Manchuria.
I'm a Manchurian. Even after the Republic, it's still my country.
[ Squeaking ]
The... secret, Your Majesty, is emerging again.
[ Men Shouting In Distance ]
[ Shouting Continues ]
Is something the matter, Your Majesty?
- [ Pu Yi ] Something is happening - [ Shouting Continues ]
What is happening, Mr.Johnston?
- Nothing is — - Quiet.
[ Shouting Continues ]
[ Hoofbeats Passing ]
- [ Gunshots ] - [ Horse whinnies ]
[ Shouting Continues ]
[ People Screaming ]
- [ Gunshots Continue ] - [ Woman Screams ]
[ Horse whinnies ]
on ourway here, Your Majesty, we were held up by students from the university.
They were protesting against the Republican government...
because it has agreed to give away Chinese territory toJapan.
Is it true, Mr.Johnston...
that many people out there have had their heads chopped off?
It is true, Your Majesty.
Many heads have been chopped off.
It does stop them thinking.
It's time for the emperor's rest.
The students are right to be angry.
[ Bird Chirping ]
I'm angry.
But I'm not allowed to leave the Forbidden City.
I want to go out, Mr.Johnston.
My lord.
I want to see the city ofsounds.
[ Chattering ]
The emperor awards you with the order ofthe Ruby Hat Button..
and with the right to be carried in your own chairwith four bearers.
[Johnston ] ♪ Ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road ♪
[ Speaking Chinese ]
♪♪ [ Singing In Chinese ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Laughing and Chattering ]
I hope the emperor has not forgotten...
that this is the day for his maths class.
ForYour Majesty.
My doctor said bicycles are bad foryou.
Bad foryou? Nonsense!
[ Pu Yi ] How does it work?
oh.
It's simple.
Head up and eyes forward.
As in life.
[ Bell Clangs ]
[ Bell Clanging In Distance ]
[ Chattering ]
- My mother's dead, is she not? - Yes, Your Majesty.
I'm profoundly sorry.
I am not.
She killed herself. She swallowed a ball ofopium.
I'm going to see her and my brother.
[ Bird Squawks ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Man Speaks Chinese ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Bicycle Bell Rings ]
[ Chinese ]
[ Bicycle Bell Rings ]
[ Shouts In Chinese ]
Open the door.
open the door!
Open the door.
[ Mouse Squeaks ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Man ] Troublemaker!
Devil! Meddler!
Trouble. Nothing but trouble
- Look where you lead him. - And you are an old, cruel, ignorant man!
The boy's mother is dead...
and he's not even allowed to see her!
[ Pu Yi ] I want to go out!
Stop that! Stay where you are!
- I want to go out! - Stop it!
- I want to go out! - Stay where you are! You fool!
Stay there!
Chang.
Hunchback. Big Foot.
[ Animal Calling ]
[ Bird Squawking ]
Sir.
Give me your hand, sir.
Can you not see?
[ Murmuring ]
[ Man ] Look at my left ear, please, sir.
Thank you. And now my right.
Thankyou
Would you follow my finger, please, sir?
Mm-hmm.
Well, it's perfectly simple,Johnston. The emperor needs spectacles.
Like Harold Lloyd.
[ woman ] Impossible.
An emperor does not wear spectacles.
That cannot be allowed
Times have changed, Your Highnesses.
[ Muttering ]
If His Majesty doesn't get spectacles, Johnston, he could lose his sight.
Your Majesty.
Ifthe emperor does not get spectacles, I will resign.
Unfortunately, our decision is final.
And unfortunately, what I have to say will be published in every newspaper in China.
What do you have to say, Mr.Johnston?
The emperor has been a prisoner in his own palace since the day that he was crowned...
and has remained a prisoner since he abdicated.
But now he's growing up, he may wonderwhy...
he is the only person in China who may not walk out of his own front door.
I think the emperor is the loneliest boy on earth.
It would be conveniently sad..
if he becomes blind
Blind, Mr.Johnston?
To the expense, Your Excellency.
To the cost of maintaining 1 ,200 eunuchs...
350 ladies-in-waiting and 1 85 cooks.
To buying 1 20 sable furs a month and 3,000 chickens a week.
To the fact that 840 guards and employees ofthe household department...
plus one lord chamberlain care only about one thing:
filling their own rice bowls.
You are very good at accounts, Mr.Johnston.
The emperor may have abdicated...
but he's still a symbol of great importance to many people.
If I did not agree with that, I would not be here.
And some of us believe...
that one day soon he may be more than a symbol.
The spectacles are a detail.
What do you really want, Mr.Johnston?
Just the spectacles.
oh.
[ Murmuring ]
[ Murmuring Continues ]
[ Whispering ]
[ Murmuring ]
The princess wanJung Your Majesty.
Seventeen years old.
Princess WhoJen. Fifteen years old.
The princess Li Li, Your Majesty.
And the Princess Fun Ying.
[ Murmuring ]
[ Pu Yi ] who is this?
Princess Wen Hsiu. Twelve years old.
She has got a funny face.
[ whistle Blowing ]
[ Man Speaks Chinese ]
Notjust one wife. One empress and one secondary consort.
- Two wives? - But who did you choose to be the empress?
They chose her. She's very old,Johnston. She's 1 7.
That's not so old, Your Majesty.
- What does she look like? - Old-fashioned.
I want a modern wife,Johnston...
who speaks English and French.
And who can dance the quickstep.
[ Pu Yi ] Johnston
Sir.
I'm going to escape,Johnston.
I've got a suitcase and a ticket to England.
I am going to Oxford University.
Your Majesty, ifyou get married, you will become the master ofyour own house.
A wedding might be a more practical way to escape.
- ♪♪ [ Horns Blowing ] - ♪♪ [ Drums Beating ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
Why did you never get married,Johnston?
oh.
♪♪ [ Continues ]
The secondary consort welcomes the empress.
The empress greets the secondary consort.
[ Gasps ]
You do everything very well.
Thankyou. I rehearsed many times.
♪♪ [ Continues ]
[ Laughing ]
- ♪♪ [ Continues ] - [ Laughing ]
♪♪ [ Continues, Faint ]
What is His Majesty thinking?
I was thinking if I was a real emperor I would become the ruler ofChina now.
And what would the emperor do if he could really rule?
I would change everything, even the way we get married.
Is the emperor against arranged marriages?
It is humiliating not to choose whom you marry.
Even I was not allowed to choose.
In anotheryear or two, His Majesty will be taller than me.
Is it true the emperor has a suitcase under his bed...
and is going to oxford?
Will the emperor take wan Jung with him?
Perhaps he would like to see my face before he decides.
Yes. The emperorwould like to see the face ofthe empress.
It is the emperorwho must remove the kai t'ou.
♪♪ [ Continues ]
♪♪ [ Stops ]
[ Applause ]
♪♪ [ Resumes ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
I also had a tutor, like Mr.Johnston.
Miss Windsor.
She's American.
Miss Windsor taught me how to do the dance ofthe quickstep.
Does the emperor know how to do the quickstep?
Will you teach me?
Leave us. Leave us.
[ Footsteps Departing ]
IfYour Majesty thinks...
it is old-fashioned to make the rain and the wind with a stranger...
we can be like a modern couple to begin with.
A modern couple?
- Good night. - Good night.
You must come to Oxford with me.
[ women Giggling ]
[ Giggles ] I like him.
- [ women Giggling ] - I am sure I am going to like him.
And he will grow up.
[ Bell Tolls ]
[ Man ] Eyes down!
Report your arrival.
- Prisoner 981 reporting. - Louder!
Prisoner 981 reporting.
[ Man #2 ] open the door.
Close the door.
Sit down
- [ Alarm Ringing In Distance ] - Name.
Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi.
Write it.
Now then.
There are two types ofconfession.
We call them toothpaste and water tap.
The toothpaste prisoner needs to be squeezed every now and then..
or else he forgets to keep confessing.
The water tap man needs one good, hard twist before he starts...
but then everything comes out.
Now, you're an intelligent person
I'm sure you understand me.
Good.
Then we'll begin.
Why do you think you're in here, 981 ?
I am accused of being a traitor, a collaborator and a counterrevolutionary.
It is not an accusation! You are a traitor...
you are a collaborator, and you are a counterrevolutionary!
Did you write this?
And you call it a confession?
This is nothing but a list ofdates. A child's fairy tale.
- What do you want me to confess? - You know what you did...
and what others did.
So why don't you volunteer the information?
I do not understand.
We don't tell people what to confess.
We already know everything about you.
I —
- Go on. - I wanted reforms.
What did you want to reform?
Everything.
Cut off my queue.
Your Majesty. Please.
[ Groans ]
- It is heavy. - The emperor before me was murdered..
because he wanted to reform the empire.
Is that not so, Mr.Johnston?
Yes, Your Majesty. Probably.
Well, let us see ifthey will kill me for reforming the Forbidden City.
Lord Chamberlain
I am appointing Mr.Johnston's friend, the poet and scholar Chen Hsiao Hsiu...
to be the new lord chamberlain.
I want him to supervise a detailed inventory ofthe imperial storerooms...
so that we can learn exactly how much has been stolen.
[ Cricket Chirping ]
[ Pu Yi Narrating ] The Forbidden City had become a theaterwithout an audience
So why did the actors remain on the stage?
It was only to steal the scenery piece by piece.
Can I sleep here? I am frightened.
[ Sighs ]
You're brave.
Are you not frightened?
I am excited. I do not want to escape anymore.
I want to rule.
Kiss me.
Can I stay with you as well?
Get in. Get in.
[ Chirping Continues ]
I used to play a game with the eunuchs.
Trying to guess who is who.
- [ Both Giggling ] - Now I cannot see you.
[ Pu Yi ] Ah.
- WanJung? - [ Chinese word ]
- wen Hsiu? - [ Laughing ]
- [ Pu Yi Growls Playfully ] - [ Laughing Continues ]
[ wen Hsiu ] Come underneath the sheet with us
[ Pu Yi Sighs ]
[ Soft Moan ]
[ Moaning Softly ]
[ Moaning ]
[ Moaning Continues ]
[ Speaking Chinese ]
Your Majesty. The storerooms are on fire, Your Majesty.
[ Men Chattering ]
[ Pu Yi Narrating ] The fire was a terrible disaster..
and I knew the eunuchs had started it to stop me from knowing what they had stolen
There had been eunuchs in the Forbidden City for 800 years
There were still more than a thousand ofthem.
I decided to expel them all
I had to ask for Republican troops to help me.
[ Crowd Shouting In Distance ]
[ Shouting Continues ]
[ Shouting Fades ]
- What are they carrying? - Their organs.
[ High Tutor] whatever their crimes..
they cannot be deprived ofthe right to be buried as whole men.
Well?
Uh...
- I have forgot what I was saying. - You are wasting our time!
We want to know about theJapanese.
How did your friendship with theJapanese begin?
Who introduced you? When?
I think it was —
it was 1 924.
Parliament had been dissolved again The president had fled.
At first, I thought it was just another coup d'état...
byjust another warlord.
Only this time it was different.
This time it was my turn.
[Johnston ] Fifteen-love
[ Gunshots ]
[ Gunshots Continue ]
[ Machine Gun Fire ]
- [ Gunfire Ceases ] - [ Clears Throat ]
[Johnston ] Play.
[Johnston ] 30-1 5.
[ Dishes Rattling ]
The rotten government ofthe Republic is in flight.
Now we shall remove the foreign stench ofthe Manchurian rats...
who still hide in the Forbidden City.
[ Pu Yi ] "Mr. Pu Yi and his family have been given one hour...
"to leave the Forbidden City.
"They will be escorted to the home of his father...
"and remain there under guard as state prisoners...
until further notice."
What are you all looking at?
What are you standing there for?
You always wanted to leave the Forbidden City.
Now you've got an hour to pack. So go!
Go!
I always thought I hated it here.
Now I'm afraid to leave
- Do you think they will kill me? - You must do as they say, Your Majesty...
while I try to reach the British Embassy
They will give you asylum there
I'm sure they will.
Chang, take my car to the south gate. I want you to drive His Majesty.
[ Officer Shouts ]
Your Majesty!
[ Soldiers Shouting, Cheering ]
[ Shouting, Cheering Continue ]
- Please, Your Majesty. - What?
[ Shouting, Cheering ]
But you didn't go to the British Embassy, did you?
You ended up at theJapanese Embassy.
TheJapanese were the only people prepared to help me.
Help you for nothing?
Japan has an emperor. We are almost the same age.
I thought it was kindness.
At the same time I realized that, for many Chinese, I was an alien...
simply because I am Manchurian.
There was even an anti-Manchurian league who wanted to assassinate me.
So I went to live in Tientsin.
It was a nice, provincial town with a big port.
In those days they had a large international settlement
TheJapanese thought it would be safer for me there
were theJapanese paying foryou in Tientsin?
oh, no.
I had to rent a villa — the Villa Chang.
And it was very expensive.
So were the bodyguards.
I spent a lot of money in Tientsin
Did you still believe in a restoration ofthe imperial system?
others did. The little court in exile
I cannot remember how much jade and jewelry they made me spend...
to buy the friendship ofsome warlord or some White Russian general.
What else did you spend your money on?
I was never tired of buying pianos, watches, radios.
As long as they were foreign
ofcourse.
Anything western was good.
Especially Wrigley's Chewing Gum, Bayer Aspirin, and cars.
While you were in Tientsin...
most ofChina came under the control ofGeneral Chiang Kai-shek —
the so-called nationalists...
the Kuomintang.
- What were your relations with them? - None.
I felt useless in Tientsin.
I was 21 .
I dreamt of going to the west.
I became a playboy.
- ♪♪ [ Piano: Intro Chord ] - ♪ Am I blue ♪
♪ Am I blue ♪
♪ Ain't these tears in my eyes ♪
- ♪ Telling you ♪ - [ People Murmuring, Chattering ]
♪ Am I blue ♪
♪ You'd be too ♪
♪ Ifeach plan with your girl ♪
♪ Done fell through ♪
♪ Was a time ♪
♪ I was her only one ♪
♪ But now ♪
♪ I'm the sad and lonely one ♪
♪♪ [ Vocalizing ]
♪ Now she's gone and we're through ♪
♪ Lord, I'm blue ♪♪
[ Man ] Very good!
♪♪ [ Band Intro: Chinese Theme ]
♪♪ [ Dixieland Jazz ]
[ Man ] well done!
[ People Chattering, Laughing ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
That's a great ship ifyou're going first class.
I am not going anywhere.
Would you like to dance?
♪♪ [ Continues ]
You are a brave man. Nobody here would have danced with me.
Why is that?
Because I'm Chinese.
Well, I'm American.
You say California. I say French Riviera.
San Francisco!
Monte Carlo!
Are we really going this time?
Who's that couple?
Oh. Henry and Elizabeth.
The emperor ofChina?
The ex-emperor and his wife.
- She's beautiful. - Yes, very.
And who are you?
- I am His Highness's other wife. - His otherwife?
Number two wife.
Well, some people have all the luck.
♪♪ [ Continues ]
Ladies and gentlemen!
- ♪♪ [ Stops ] - ♪♪ [ Drumroll, Cymbal Crash ]
General Chiang Kai-shek...
has taken Shanghai.
The Kuomintang have broken with the Reds...
and have knocked them for six!
- The Reds are finished! - [ Shouting, Cheering ]
♪♪ [ Fanfare ]
[ Man ] Sorry about the reception, everyone We'll get it fixed in a minute.
It would be wiser to return to theJapanese Legation now, Your Majesty.
- Your car is waiting. -Thank you, Mr. Amakasu.
[ Man ] Here we go.
[ Radio: Static ]
[ Radio: Announcer] The general strike in Shanghai has collapsed
The international settlement is safe
Troops ofthe Kuomintang..
are now in full control ofthe city...
and firm steps are being taken to restore order in the native areas
Wen Hsiu, you want some gum?
I want a divorce.
I do not want to be your mistress any longer.
I thought you were my secondary consort.
In the Forbidden City, you were the emperor and I was your secondary consort.
But nowyou are Henry Pu Yi.
Wan Yung is your wife, Elizabeth.
And who am I?
- I'm nobody. - [ Dog Whimpers ]
I did not know you were so unhappy.
You can only have one wife in the West.
I want a divorce.
No one can divorce me.
[ Engines Stop ]
- [ Footsteps ] - [ Car Door opens ]
[ Car Door Closes ]
I want a divorce!
[ Thunder Rumbling ]
Your Ladyship!
Thankyou.
I do not need it!
I do not need it.
[ Thunder Continues Rumbling ]
♪♪ [ Record Player: Pop ]
- Wen Hsiu. - [ Dog Whimpering ]
♪♪ [ Record Player: Man Singing InJapanese ]
Elizabeth, can I come in?
Don't you remember me?
I'm dressed like a pilot, but I still can't fly. Not yet.
Eastern Jewel! We had dancing classes together.
Yes,just before your marriage.
You silly girl. Why do people want to get married?
Wen Hsiu has gone.
She will never come back.
Is that so bad?
She was my only friend.
Well, at least now you've got your husband all to yourself.
And you've got me!
I'll be your friend.
- You smoke opium? - Be wicked.
It's the best in Shanghai.
Why are you going to Europe?
The place to go isJapan. It's more fun than anywhere.
It's modern
How do you know we are going to Europe? It is a secret.
Oh, I know everything.
I know Chiang Kai-shek has got false teeth.
I even know his nickname — "Cash My Check!"
I'm a spy...
and I don't care who knows it.
- A spy? - I work for theJapanese Special Service Bureau.
And I've come to protect you.
TheJapanese —
They are getting closer to him every day.
He is sending his brother to the military academy in Tokyo.
They talk to him about Manchuria all the time.
And Mr. Amakasu never says hello to me.
I do not trust theJapanese.
[ Thunder Continues Rumbling ]
♪♪ [ Record Player: Man Continues Singing In Japanese ]
Ofcourse, I'd love to be the emperor's new secondary consort.
- Eastern Jewel. - Ifthe post is available.
♪♪ [ Ends ]
[ Needle Idling on Record ]
The post is vacant, my dear cousin.
But you do not fit the part.
Wen Hsiu left the dog behind. Do you want it?
[ Dog Whimpers ]
It is my fault.
It is all my fault.
[ Thunder Continues Rumbling ]
[ Needle Idling on Record ]
[ Needle Scratches On Record ]
I came to see you, Your Majesty...
to give you bad news.
Something terrible has happened
The imperial tombs ofour Manchurian ancestors...
have been attacked and robbed...
by troops ofthe Kuomintang
Chinese soldiers
A warlord working for Chiang Kai-shek
The body ofthe Empress Dowager...
was hacked to pieces.
Her pearl necklace has become a wedding present from Chiang Kai-shek...
to his new wife.
[ Thunder Continues Rumbling ]
Tell me, 981 , do you consideryourselfto be Chinese?
ofcourse.
- What is this? -Japan.
- And what do you call this part ofChina? - The northeast.
- And what did you call it as a child? - Manchuria.
Japan invaded Manchuria on September 1 8, 1 931 ...
and began to set up a puppet state called Manchukuo.
Shortly afterwards, a Japanese delegation paid you a secret visit in Tientsin...
to request your collaboration.
Would you sayyou refused?
- Speak up! - I already told you.
- I have told you a hundred times. - Tell us again. Tell us 200 times.
I refused to collaborate.
You sayyou refused.
But a month later, on November 1 0, 1 931 , there you are arriving in Manchuria.
or should I call it Manchukuo?
Now, according to this so-called confession ofyours...
you didn't go ofyour own free will.
You insist that you were kidnapped by theJapanese!
- Yes. - And taken to Manchuria by force
- Yes! - Sit down.
Do you remember a man called Reginald FlemingJohnston?
He was your tutor.
Yes.
And a good friend, I believe.
After 28 years in China...
Mr.Johnston returned to England.
He became a professor ofOriental Studies at London University...
and he wrote a book
Itis called Twilight in the Forbidden City...
and it is dedicated to you.
[ Fly Buzzing ]
[ Car Horn Honking ]
- [ Ship Horn Blows ] - [ Man ] Bye now!
- Bye! - Good-bye!
- [ woman ] Don't forget to write! - Bye, Mom!
I am going to miss you,Johnston.
I shall miss you, Your Majesty.
Do you think a man can become emperor again?
Yes.
- [ Shouting, Chattering ] - [ Bells Clanging ]
Thankyou, Your Majesty.
All aboard! All aboard! All aboard!
How can we say good-bye?
As we said hello.
Farewell, Mr.Johnston.
Farewell, Your Majesty.
[ Bells Continue Clanging ]
- All aboard! All aboard! - [ Shouting, Chattering Continue ]
- [ Speaks Chinese ] - Thankyou.
[ Guard ] Thankyou
- All aboard! - All aboard!
♪♪ [ Band: "Auld Lang Syne" ]
All aboard now!
All aboard!
- ♪♪ [ Continues ] - All aboard!
[ Ship Horn Blows ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
Good-bye, Mr.Johnston!
We'll never forget you, Mr.Johnston!
Good-bye! Mr.Johnston, good-bye!
- Good-bye! - All aboard!
On page 449...
Mr.Johnston writes:
"The endeavor to make out that the emperor had been kidnapped by theJapanese...
"is wholly untrue.
"He left Tientsin and went to Manchuria...
of his own free will."
-Johnston was a liar. - what did you say?
Mr.Johnston had left before I was taken to Manchuria.
He could not have known what happened.
[ Interrogator] Sit down.
According to this account, you prepared the man's things on the morning of November 9.
Isn't it unusual for a man who is kidnapped...
to have his luggage packed by his valet the day before he is kidnapped?
This is what you have written, isn't it? Who told you to pack this man's luggage?
These two stories don't fit, do they?
It was a long time ago.
Perhaps I made a mistake.
You are lying! You are both lying!
Control yourself!
[ Door opens, Closes ]
You can still change your mind.
I am the hereditary ruler ofthe Manchurian people.
There can be no Manchukuo without me.
Do you not see? TheJapanese are using you.
I must try to use them.
TheJapanese invasion of Manchuria will be condemned by the League of Nations...
and by every civilized country on Earth.
The Chinese Republic has broken every promise it ever made to me.
Chinese troops desecrated the tombs of my ancestors.
And Chinese troops did not defend Manchuria from theJapanese.
But Manchuria is still China!
- China has turned its back on me. - Please, do not go.
Manchuria is the richest frontier in Asia.
Coal, oil, railways!
Millions ofChinese immigrants are going there everyyear.
I'm going to build my country.
Johnston was wrong, but he wasn't a liar.
There was no kidnapping.
You went to Manchuria byyour own choice because you wanted to be emperor again!
These might help you to remember the truth.
[ Door opens, Closes ]
[ Shouting, Cheering ]
[ Car Horn Honking ]
[ Crowd Cheering, Chanting ]
[ Chanting In Chinese ]
[ officer Speaking Chinese ]
[ Chanting Subsides ]
[ wind Whistling ]
[ Cannon Fire ]
[ Cannons Continue Firing ]
To heaven.
- [ Cannons Continue Firing ] - To earth.
To the moon
To the sun.
You're an empress again.
What I'm going to be is a pilot.
I'm going to train at a secret base near Yokohama to learn precision bombing.
I want to bomb Shanghai.
Bomb Shanghai?
I hate China.
I hate you.
♪♪ [ Orchestra ]
[ SpeakingJapanese ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
[ Amakasu Continues In Japanese ]
TheJapanese army high command. Very impressive!
TheJapanese army!
♪♪ [ Ends ]
Quickly!
[ SpeakingJapanese ]
On behalfofthe emperor ofJapan...
the commander ofthe Kwangtung Army extends his warmest congratulations...
on the occasion of His Majesty's coronation
♪♪ [ orchestra Resumes ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
[ Chattering ]
[ Man SpeakingJapanese ]
[ Man ] Ah, yes.
[ Man Continues SpeakingJapanese ]
[ Man Translating ] Manchukuo will grow into a great nation
Japan will always be at her side to help her.
♪♪ [ Continues ]
Uh, may I introduce you?
- My wife, the Princess Hiro Saga. - [ Woman SpeakingJapanese ]
Prime Minister Hsiao Hsiu
[ woman SpeakingJapanese ]
The Honorable Chang Chinghui Minister of Defense.
[Japanese ]
- The Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Colonna. - [Japanese ]
♪♪ [ Continues ]
The empress and I accept with great pleasure —
Excuse me, General.
[ SpeakingJapanese ]
[Japanese ]
Ah, and our Mr. Amakasu...
is the new chiefof the Manchurian Motion Picture Studios.
[Japanese ]
Why do you have to spoil this day?
Why?
Mr. Amakasu is the most powerful man in Manchukuo.
What are you talking about?
You did not believe I could be emperor again, but I am.
You are blind.
Do you know what it means to be an empress? You are an empress.
Why do you not make love to me anymore?
Because you have become an opium addict.
Opium killed my mother. Opium destroyed China.
You can buy opium anywhere in Manchukuo.
- Shut up. - In any shop.
Shut up!
Your brother is going to have a child.
we must have a child
You must have an heir.
Emperor Hirohito has officially invited us toJapan.
I'm going alone.
You are staying here
I will never go toJapan.
Then go to your room.
Ten thousand years to His Majesty the Emperor!
- Ten thousand years! - Ten thousand years!
Ten thousand years to His Majesty, the Emperor!
- Ten thousand years! - [ Chattering, Shouting ]
Ten thousand years!
[ Cheering, Shouting Continue ]
Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years!
♪♪ [ Continues, Faint ]
I told you I hate you.
Only because I give you what you need.
Now we're engaged.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Bell Clanging ]
[ Clanging Ceases ]
♪♪ [ Violin: Tuning ]
[ Water Pouring ]
- You forgot my tooth powder. - oh.
Yes, sir.
Move him.
[ Guard ] 981 , collect your things
[ Guards Shouting In Chinese ]
Upstairs!
Stop.
Your laces are undone. Do them up.
Thursdayyou serve lunch. Fridayyou clean the toilet.
Saturdayyou sweep the floor.
[ Brushing ]
[ Fly Buzzing ]
I have never been separated from my family.
You'd better get used to it.
[ Man ] You do not remember me, do you?
I was the minister oftrade in Manchukuo.
You were all in Manchukuo.
Now I am the cell leader.
It is important to follow the rules here. No talking during study sessions.
Where is your gun, Captain?
Where are their swords?
Our weapons have been removed, Your Majesty...
on the orders ofColonel Yoshioka.
Colonel Yoshioka?
- Colonel Yoshioka. - What has happened here?
Why has my guard been disarmed?
Yes, it is very unfortunate, Your Majesty.
There have been many changes while you were in Tokyo.
Your Majesty, may I present Masaomi Kobayakawa..
the newJapanese ambassador to Manchukuo.
Why is Prime Minister Hsiao Hsiu not here to receive me?
The prime minister has resigned, Your Majesty.
His son has been assassinated.
Assassinated?
By Communist bandits, Your Majesty.
I must see him at once.
He refuses to see anyone, Your Majesty.
He has gone to a monastery...
far away.
Who are you?
Chang Chinghui, Your Majesty...
Minister of Defense.
Yes.
ofcourse.
The council meeting will be at 4:00, Your Majesty...
before the state dinner.
"The emperor has been asked to sign the following.
"After careful consideration...
"we have decided to nominate the Honorable Chang Chinghui...
as the new prime minister of Manchukuo."
- [ Book Cover Closes ] - No.
Today, on our return fromJapan...
we wish to speak ofsomething more important —
the future ofour friendship with Japan.
This is based on mutual respect.
And respect means equality and independence.
When the two emperors stood together and saluted the two national flags...
they recognized that Manchukuo had come ofage.
Manchukuo is not a colony. Manchukuo is Manchuria.
The relationship between our two countries...
is like the relationship between its two emperors.
It is rooted in fraternal trust..
in —
in the desire to preserve our ancient traditions...
and in a mutual respect for our national identities!
Already we have welcomed the ambassadors...
of El Salvador, Costa Rica the Vatican.
Soon, I'm — I'm sure the other countries will follow.
I'm going to have a child.
The father is Manchurian.
Colonel Yoshioka and Mr. Amakasu!
I did it foryou.
His Majesty forgot to sign the appointment ofthe new prime minister...
Mr. Chang Chinghui.
I did not forget.
When an Englishman robs someone, Your Majesty...
he becomes a gentleman.
If he robs a lot, he becomes a knight.
Do you imagine the British run their empire as a charity?
If India has paid for the cost of its own occupation...
so must Manchukuo!
We hope Manchukuo will have an heir.
The empress is expecting a child.
Yes, Your Majesty. we are aware ofthe situation
This is the name ofthe father.
[ Yoshioka ] His name is Chang
He is your driver.
[ Amakasu ] All the necessary facts have been recorded
The man will be punished.
The emperor cannot allow his honor to be stained.
TheJapanese are the only divine race on earth.
We will take China, Hong Kong, Indochina...
Siam, Malaya...
Singapore and India!
Asia belongs to us!
There have been complaints from your cell mates.
You must learn how to urinate at night without waking them all up.
The way to do it is to urinate against the side ofthe bucket...
not into the middle.
Yes, comrade
You still think I am your servant, don't you?
You are all pretending.
You arejust pretending you have changed.
Shut up! The party teaches us to be new men while working for a new China!
You worked in Amakasu's private office.
You are still the same people People do not change.
Guard! Guard!
[ Man Laughing ]
Guard!
- I let it happen. - Guard!
- I let it happen.
[ Baby Crying ]
[ Wan Jung Sighing ]
[ Baby Continues Crying ]
Ohh! [ Laughs ]
The second edict, Your Majesty.
Japanese will be the official language in Manchukuo schools.
- [ Knock On Door ] - Your Majesty!
The baby was born dead, Your Majesty.
How is the empress?
It will be better ifshe goes to a clinic. Somewhere warm.
- She's already left, Your Majesty. - [ Door Closes ]
Open the door.
[ Newsreel Announcer ] With Manchukuo now firmly in their grasp..
theJapanese soon controlled most of North China.
By 1 937 they were ready to strike south...
at the heart ofthe country.
The attack on Shanghai was one of the first civilian bombing raids in history.
It left thousands homeless, thousands dead.
[ Screaming, Shouting ]
Three months later,Japanese armies were besieging the provisional capital at Nanking...
and when the city fell the atrocities began.
Trying to terrorize the rest ofChina into surrender...
theJapanese high command ordered a massacre.
More than 200,000 civilians were systematically executed.
The world watched in horror..
but no help was given
On December 7, 1 941 ...
Japan attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.
There was no warning.
Manchukuo, theJapanese bastion in North China...
was still ruled by the puppet emperor Pu Yi.
But behind the facade oftriumph...
was a country enslaved...
a country whereJapanese experiments in biological warfare...
were carried out on live human beings...
a country where opium production became the easiest way to finance the war.
Millions of people were deliberately turned into drug addicts.
[ Newsreel: Airplane Droning ]
[ Announcer Continues ] Nine days after the bomb at Hiroshima...
on August 1 5, 1 945...
Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender ofJapan.
It was the first time his voice had ever been heard on radio.
[ Hirohito SpeakingJapanese ]
[ Radio: Hirohito Continues SpeakingJapanese ]
[ Gunshot ]
[ Radio: Hirohito Continues SpeakingJapanese ]
You must get to Tokyo, Your Majesty
You must surrender to the Americans, not the Russians.
The Communists will kill everyone
[Japanese ]
[ Explosions, Gunfire ]
[ Dogs Whimpering ]
[ officer Shouts Command In Japanese ]
- [ Man SpeakingJapanese ] - [ Dog Barking ]
[ Dog Continues Barking ]
The empress has returned.
- [ Spits ] - Majesty, please.
[ Spits ]
[ Yoshioka ] Your Majesty!
[ Soldier SpeakingJapanese ]
Hurry! There is no room on the plane, Your Majesty!
The women are not in danger! we must hurry!
[ Spits ]
[ Explosions, Faint ]
Your Majesty! Your Majesty is leaving now!
Now!
[ Gunfire ]
[ Soldiers Shouting In Foreign Language ]
[ Gunfire, Explosions Continue ]
The Russians!
[ Speaking Russian ]
[ Ping-Pong Balls Clacking ]
[ Digging ]
Perhaps you think we are here to teach men to lie in a new way
Why did you sign every accusation made against you?
I didn't stop you from killing yourself to see you like this —
someone who signs anything to please his enemies, to please me!
You knew about a lot ofthings in Manchukuo...
even the secret agreement..
but you couldn't possibly have known...
about theJapanese biological warfare experiments in Harbin.
Could you?
So why did you sign these papers?
I was responsible for everything.
You are responsible for what you do!
All your life you thought you were better than everyone else.
Nowyou think you are the worst ofall!
Why can you not leave me alone?
You saved my life to make me a puppet in your own play.
You saved me because I am useful to you.
Is that so terrible...
to be useful?
♪♪ [ Group Singing Anthem In Chinese ]
♪♪ [ Ends ]
Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi.
By order of the Supreme People's Court..
the war criminal Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi..
male, 53 years old...
ofthe Manchu nationality...
and from Peking...
has now served 1 0 years' detention.
As a result of remolding through labor...
and ideological education during his captivity...
he has shown that he has genuinely reformed.
In accordance with clause one ofthe Special Pardon order...
he is therefore to be released
You see?
I will end up living in prison longer than you.
[ Men, women Speaking Chinese, Laughing ]
[ Laughing, Speaking Chinese Continue ]
[ Woman Clears Throat ]
- [ Woman Clears Throat ] - [ Chinese ]
- [ Chattering ] - [ Bicycle Bells Ringing ]
[ Chinese ]
♪♪ [ Band: Accordions, Faint ]
♪♪ [ Continues, Louder ]
- ♪♪ [ Continues ] - [ Chanting In Chinese ]
[ Call And Response Chanting In Chinese ]
- [ Man ] The Red Guards. - [ Call And Response Chanting Continues ]
They are so young.
It is dangerous.
[ Man Shouting In Chinese ]
[ Chanting ]
[ Pu Yi ] Look.
Over there. Pu Chieh, look!
It is the governor ofour prison!
- It cannot be. - It is!
I'm sure it is!
[ Call And Response Chanting Continues ]
Be careful.
Come back!
♪♪ [ Continues ]
[ Call And Response Chanting Continues ]
Comrade, this must be a mistake.
I know this man. He is a good man.
- Who are you? - I am a gardener.
Join us, comrade, or fuck off!
[ Call And Response Chanting Continues ]
But what has he done?
- He has been accused. - Accused ofwhat?
- Emperor's lackey! - Revisionist element!
Rotten rightist!
- Confess your crime. - I have nothing to confess.
Kowtow to Chairman Mao.
- Confess your crimes. - I have nothing to confess.
Kowtow!
[ Call And Response Chanting Continues ]
- Confess your crimes! - Wait!
He's a teacher! He is a good teacher!
- You — You cannot do this to him! - Move! Move!
You are wrong! He is a good teacher!
[ Chanting Stops ]
[ Chanting In Chinese ]
- ♪♪ [ Accordions ] - ♪♪ [ Singing In Chinese ]
[ Chanting Continues ]
♪♪ [ Resumes ]
♪♪ [ Continues, Faint ]
[ Boy ] Stop!
You are not allowed in there!
- Who are you? - I live here.
I am the son ofthe guardian.
Ah, well, I used to live here too.
- That is where I sat. - who are you?
I was the emperor ofChina.
Prove it!
♪♪ [ Bullhorn Alarm: "Yankee Doodle Dandy" ]
♪♪ [ Alarm: Melody Repeats ]
[ Woman Speaking Chinese ]
- This is the Hall ofSupreme Harmony... - [ Chinese Continues ]
where the emperors were crowned.
The last emperor to be crowned here was Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi.
He was three years old