Cry for Happy (1961)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Irving Brecher (writer)
George Campbell (novel)

Release Date:

January 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

U.S. Navy photographic team uses Tokyo geisha house as its home. |

Plot Keywords:

Navy | Geisha | Japan | Press Coverage | Based On Novel

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	CPO Andy Cyphers
Donald O'Connor	...	Murray Prince
Miiko Taka	...	Chiyoko
James Shigeta	...	Suzuki
Miyoshi Umeki	...	Harue
Michi Kobi	...	Harakichi
Howard St. John	...	Adm. J.B. Bennett
Joe Flynn	...	John McIntosh
Chet Douglas	...	Lank
Tsuruko Kobayashi	...	Koyuki
Harriet E. MacGibbon	...	Mrs. Bennett
Robert Kino	...	Endo
Bob Okazaki	...	Izumi
Harlan Warde	...	Chaplain
Nancy Kovack	...	Camille Cameron

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp

Company:

William Goetz Productions

This is an Intelligently-Plotted, Leisurely and Charming Satire

This is another of a large list of service comedies, WWI, WWII and Korea, that were tried by Hollywood producers. Apparently, the idea of being part of an emergency organization of order-givers and not being able to risk one's life actively caused men in uniform to think up fantastic schemes, dream big dreams and want to get back to civilian profit-earning. Case in point--the gentlemen in this happy and very-well-made comedic satire. George Marshall directed these breezy proceedings with his usual genial skill; George Duning provided nice music and Burnett Guffey the colorful and lovely cinematography. The juxtaposition of news-corps uniformed types and Japanese ladies in a place rented by the newsmen for various purposes worked unusually well. In this talented cast are Glenn Ford, Donald O'Connor, Miiko Taka, Miyoshi Umeki, Nancy Kovack, Howard St. John, Michi Kobi, funnyman Joe Flynn, Harlan Warde and talented James Shigeta. Irving Brecher wrote the well-paced screenplay from George Campbell's clever and dialogue-rich novel. Forget the storyline; this is a fine story based on real experiences, exampling the differences between the thinking of the US soldiers and those with whom they deal in another country--in this case, Japan; it is almost a companion piece to "Don't Go Near the Water", only much lower-keyed. It even has a theme--"Be true to yourself", and there are no real villains; only a timetable and romances and the usual GI slightly-illegal goings-on. A vastly underrated and well-remembered film. Watch it, slowly. Enjoy!