Bridge to the Sun (1961)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Etienne Périer

Writers:

Gwendolen Terasaki (autobiography "Bridge to the Sun")
Charles Kaufman (writer)

Release Date:

23 February 1962 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

Based on a true story, this compelling drama relates the difficulties of a young woman married to a Japanese diplomat during World War II, victim of suspicion and animosity from her husband's government. |

Plot Keywords:

Japan | Interracial Marriage | Biracial Child

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Carroll Baker	...	Gwen Terasaki
James Shigeta	...	Hidenari Terasaki
James Yagi	...	Hara
Tetsuro Tamba	...	Jiro (as Tetzuro Tamba)
Yôko Takahashi		(as Kyoko Takahashi)
Hiroshi Tomono	...	Ishi
Yoshiko Hiromura
Sean Garrison	...	Fred Tyson
Ruth Masters	...	Aunt Peggy
Lee Payant
Nori Elisabeth Hermann	...	Mako Terasaki
Emi Florence Hirsch	...	Mako Terasaki

Also Known As:

Pont vers le soleil (France)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Cité Films

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the story is set in the 1930's and 1940's, the characters' clothing and hairstyles are those of the late 1950's/early 1960's.

Movie Connections:

Edited from Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)

Heartfelt impression

I saw this movie over 40 years ago on television, and it made such an impression on me that I am now trying to find this movie again. The book was written in 1957 by Gwen Terasaki and was also called Bridge to the Sun. The movie came out in 1961.

This was a true story about an American girl who came to Washington, DC, and there she met a Japanese diplomat. They fell in love and got married very quickly. Then WWII broke out, and all Japanese were deported back to their country. Gwen Teresaki went with her husband to Japan. It shows all the differences between the two cultures, and how Hidenari Terasaki became a teacher to his wife, Gwen, about the customs of the Japanese. It's truly a beautiful love story as well as a realistic account of the difficulties of this interracial marriage.

I really believe more should see this movie as it can open up your eyes as to the fact that all of us should live together in peace and get along. I will never forget this movie/life story! I wish the movie would come out again or be re-made as I believe it would help us all !