Portraying one of the shadier details of American history, this is the story of Jack McGurn, who comes to Los Angeles in 1936. He gets a job at a movie theatre in Little Tokyo and falls in ...
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Title: Come See the Paradise (1990)
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3 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Dennis Quaid | ... |
Jack McGurn
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| Tamlyn Tomita | ... |
Lily Yuriko Kawamura /
McGann
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| Sab Shimono | ... |
Hiroshi Kawamura
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Shizuko Hoshi | ... |
Mrs. Kawamura
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| Stan Egi | ... |
Charlie Kawamura
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Ronald Yamamoto | ... |
Harry Kawamura
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Akemi Nishino | ... |
Dulcie Kawamura
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Naomi Nakano | ... |
Joyce Kawamura
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Brady Tsurutani | ... |
Frankie Kawamura
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Elizabeth Gilliam | ... |
Younger Mini McGann
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Shyree Mezick | ... |
Middle Mini McGann
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| Caroline Junko King | ... |
Older Mini McGann
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| Pruitt Taylor Vince | ... |
Augie Farrell
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| Colm Meaney | ... |
Gerry McGurn
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| Becky Ann Baker | ... |
Marge McGurn
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
Portraying one of the shadier details of American history, this is the story of Jack McGurn, who comes to Los Angeles in 1936. He gets a job at a movie theatre in Little Tokyo and falls in love with the boss's daughter, Lily Kawamura. When her father finds out, he is fired and forbidden ever to see her again. But together they escape to Seattle. When the war breaks out, the authorities decide that the Japanese immigrants must live in camps like war prisoners. Written by Mattias Thuresson
Plot Keywords:
japanese | vomiting | breasts | four word title | theatre production |Taglines:
First, their love was forbidden by law. Then it was torn apart by war. See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
January 1991 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Bienvenue au paradis See more »Box Office
Gross:
$847,306 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (FMC Library Print)Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Older Mini McGann: Why are we so early?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: It's good to be early.
Older Mini McGann: Do you ever worry that you won't recognize him, Mama?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: You recognize me, don't you?
Older Mini McGann: Well, he might have grown a beard or a moustache or something. And I was so little. I only think I remember him. Do you think he'll remember me?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Well, he has all your photographs and all the letters you wrote him, and he has all your school reports
Older Mini McGann: You sent him my school reports?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Of course I did. I wanted to let him know how well you were doing. Come on, ...
[...]
See more »
Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Charles Tobias and Lew Brown
Performed by Teri Eiko Koide, Jumi Emizawa and Cynthia Lauren
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Both of the film's lead characters had genealogy of mixed ethnic descent. Jack McGurn (Dennis Quaid) was Irish-American whilst Lily Yuriko McGann nee Kawamura (Tamlyn Tomita was Japanese-American. See more »Goofs
During the destroying Japanese businesses scene, one of the broken windows is made from safety glass. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Older Mini McGann: Why are we so early?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: It's good to be early.
Older Mini McGann: Do you ever worry that you won't recognize him, Mama?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: You recognize me, don't you?
Older Mini McGann: Well, he might have grown a beard or a moustache or something. And I was so little. I only think I remember him. Do you think he'll remember me?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Well, he has all your photographs and all the letters you wrote him, and he has all your school reports
Older Mini McGann: You sent him my school reports?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Of course I did. I wanted to let him know how well you were doing. Come on, ...
[...]
See more »
Soundtracks
Don't Sit Under the Apple TreeMusic by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Charles Tobias and Lew Brown
Performed by Teri Eiko Koide, Jumi Emizawa and Cynthia Lauren
See more »
It's 1936. Jack McGurn (Dennis Quaid)'s wife had gone back to Ireland after losing their unborn child in an industrial accident. He is an union "sweatshop lawyer" who gets run out of Brooklyn after he disagreed with burning down a theater. He comes to join his brother Gerry in L.A. and eventually gets a job at a Japanese theater in Little Tokyo. He falls in love with the owner's daughter Lily Kawamura (Tamlyn Tomita). Her father forbids her and she runs away to get married in Seattle. It was illegal in California at the time. He gets into trouble trying to organize the cannery plant that he works at despite her objections. She goes back to her parents right when Japanese forces attack Pearl Habor. The police arrests all the first generation men. Jack rejoins his family in L.A. The family is interned and Jack is drafted.
The movie moves deliberately. It takes its time to show the cultural differences and give the romance some space. It's a bit slow but it works as an old fashion romantic film. It doesn't really heighten the drama more than a simple melodrama level. The running time is over two hours long and probably would work better with less. This starts as a fine love story about Jack and Lily but that drama fades into the background in the second half. The camp part of the movie becomes more about telling different aspects of life through the family members.