Sayonara (1957)

A US air force major in Kobe confronts his own opposition to marriages between American servicemen and Japanese women when he falls for a beautiful performer.

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Paul Osborn (screen play), James Michener (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Patricia Owens, Red Buttons

Won 4 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marlon Brando	...	Major Gruver
Patricia Owens	...	Eileen Webster
Red Buttons	...	Joe Kelly
Miiko Taka	...	Hana-Ogi
Ricardo Montalban	...	Nakamura
Martha Scott	...	Mrs. Webster
Miyoshi Umeki	...	Katsumi
James Garner	...	Captain Bailey
Kent Smith	...	General Webster
Douglass Watson	...	Colonel Crawford (as Douglas Watson)
Reiko Kuba	...	Fumiko-San
Soo Yong	...	Teruko-San
Shochiku Kagekidan Girls Revue

Storyline

Major Lloyd Gruver, a Korean War flying ace reassigned to Japan, staunchly supports the military's opposition to marriages between American troops and Japanese women. But that's before Gruver experiences a love that challenges his own deeply set prejudices... and plunges him into conflict with the U.S. Air Force and Japan's own cultural taboos.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | u.s. air force | american | korean war | military | 

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Taglines:

"I am not allowed to love. But I will love you if that is your desire..." Marlon Brando and an exquisite new Japanese star. They LIVE James A. Michener's story of defiant desire. It is called "Sayonara"

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

1957 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Sayonara - Elveda

Filming Locations:

Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pennebaker Productions, William Goetz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

147 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Matsubayashi Girls Revue" stage shows in the film were performed by the Shochiku Kagekidan Girls Revue.

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Goofs

Most of the movie was filmed in Kyoto, not Kobe.

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Quotes

Hana-ogi: I'm so frightened and confused. I cannot think. I cannot even understand your thinking.

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Connections

Featured in The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Narukami"
(uncredited)
Words and Music by S. Oka

User Reviews

Two Sayonaras

There are two "Sayonara"s: the James Mitchner book and the

Hollywood adaptation. The Major Llyod Gruver portrayed in the book is

introduced as an army brat, graduate of West Point, no-nonsense air

force pilot and career officer who does not discuss personal matters

with enlisted men. The Ace Gruver introduced in the film is a

brooding Brando who arrives in a fighter jet instead of on a Triumph

motorcycle and whose best friend is Airman Kelly. The Japan portrayed

in the Mitchner book is the everyday Japan of narrow streets, noodle

vendors, ramen shops, yakitori stands, tatami rooms, and futon at bed

time. The Japan portrayed in the film is a land of geisha,

Takarazuka, kabuki, bunraku, pagoda, arched bridges, and a lot of other

Japan stereotypes I have yet to encounter although I have lived in

Japan for the past 31 years and have a masters degree in Far East Asian

Studies from Sophia University, Tokyo. Both "Sayonara"s offer something o value. One is realistic. One

is a beautiful fantasy. Read the book and watch the movie and take

your choice of endings.