The Black Ships
1970, English. Directed by Charles Eames & Ray Eames.
Created with imagery taken from the 19th-Century Japanese woodcuts on display in the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibition “The Japanese Expedition 1852-1866 of Commodore Matthew Perry,” the film records the opening of the country to Western trade from a Japanese perspective. In Charles’ words, the film “shows something of the special and rare situations that existed when these two cultures came together…one very sophisticated, one with a highly developed technology.” The soundtrack juxtaposes the visuals, with music from the album “Banjo Kings,” an early-American fife-and-drum recording from the Smithsonian Institution archives, and traditional Japanese music from tapes provided by the Japanese embassy.
- Runtime
- 0h 8m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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The Black Ships isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 January 1970.
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- Released
- 1 January 1970
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The Black Ships: quick answers
Is The Black Ships worth watching?
The Black Ships doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Black Ships?
The Black Ships runs 8 minutes (0h 8m).
Does The Black Ships have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Black Ships. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Black Ships parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Black Ships yet.
Which OTT platform is The Black Ships on?
The Black Ships isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 1 January 1970. (Checked 12 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Black Ships?
If you liked The Black Ships, try Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, Mifune: The Last Samurai, The Untold History Of The United States.
Who directed The Black Ships?
The Black Ships (1970) was directed by Charles Eames and Ray Eames.