Shogun Assassin (1981) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - January 16, 1981

Shogun Assassin was the Americanized edit of the first two Lone Wolf and Cub movies, Sword of Vengeance and Baby Cart at the River Styx, into a single feature. While I have the first two films, I do not have a memory of seeing this version. Even though I do remember its release and the excoriating review Gene Siskel gave the film.

But I do have the limited edition soundtrack of Shogun Assassin that was released by BSX Records in 2022.

Being a New World Pictures theatrical release, it comes as no surprise that it was coupled with a re-release of 1980's Humanoids from the Deep at most venues. Although the Balboa Theatre, which I once lived three blocks from, had it coupled with a re-release of 1977's The Hills Have Eyes.

The debt The Mandalorian owes to Lone Wolf and Cub, or to Shogun Assassin, is quite obvious and acknowledged. I got quite the geeky giggle when the first film's "Choose your destiny" scene was restaged in, of all things, and episode of The Book of Boba Fett.