Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

Director:

Rob Marshall

Writers (WGA):

Robin Swicord (screenplay)
Arthur Golden (book)

Release Date:

23 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.

Plot Keywords:

Geisha | Japan | Jealousy | Love | Coming Of Age

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 29 nominations

Cast

Suzuka Ohgo	...	Chiyo
Togo Igawa	...	Tanaka
Mako	...	Sakamoto
Samantha Futerman	...	Satsu
Elizabeth Sung	...	Sakamoto's Wife
Thomas Ikeda	...	Mr. Bekku
Li Gong	...	Hatsumomo (as Gong Li)
Tsai Chin	...	Auntie
Kaori Momoi	...	Mother
Zoe Weizenbaum	...	Young Pumpkin
David Okihiro	...	Shamisen Teacher
Miyako Tachibana	...	Dance Teacher
Kotoko Kawamura	...	Granny
Karl Yune	...	Koichi
Eugenia Yuan	...	Korin
Yôko Narahashi	...	Mameha's Maid (as Yoko Narahashi)
Michelle Yeoh	...	Mameha
Kenneth Tsang	...	The General
Ken Watanabe	...	Chairman
Navia Nguyen	...	Izuko - Geisha in Green
Natsuo Tomita	...	Geisha in Lavender
Yûki Kudô	...	Pumpkin
Ziyi Zhang	...	Sayuri
Fumi Akutagawa	...	Yukimoto Teahouse Matron
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	The Baron
Koji Toyoda	...	Male Hairdresser
Rick Mali	...	Man in Grey Hat
Steve Terada	...	Boy on Bike
Laura Miro	...	Yukimoto Teahouse Geisha / Spring Festival Dancer
Diane Mizota	...	Yukimoto Teahouse Geisha / Spring Festival Dancer
Yasusuke Uike	...	Sumo Referee
Shûhei Mainoumi	...	Small Sumo Wrestler (as Shuhei Mainoumi)
Daisuke Dewaarashi	...	Large Sumo Wrestler
Kôji Yakusho	...	Nobu (as Koji Yakusho)
Ren Urano	...	Sumo Ring Announcer
Ace Yonamine	...	Sumo Wrestler
Anthony Begonia	...	Sumo Wrestler
Albert 'Sumo' Lee	...	Sumo Wrestler
Dino Rivera	...	Sumo Wrestler
Randall Duk Kim	...	Dr. Crab
Takayo Fischer	...	Tanizato Teahouse Owner
Asako Takasue	...	Tanizato Teahouse Matron
Clarissa Park	...	Dancer at Party
Nobu Matsuhisa	...	Kimono Artist (as Nobuyuki Matsuhisa)
James Taku Leung	...	Kimono Factory Worker (as Jim Leung)
Chad Cleven	...	Drunken G.I.
Richard J. Bell	...	Drunken G.I.
Cameron Duncan	...	Drunken G.I.
Faith Shin	...	Little Kiko
Brannon Bates	...	Military Police Officer
Ted Levine	...	Colonel Derricks
Paul Adelstein	...	Lieutenant Hutchins
Shizuko Hoshi	...	Sayuri Narration (voice)
Michelle Aguilar Camaya	...	Spring Festival Dancer
Janelle Dote	...	Spring Festival Dancer
Kim Halzle	...	Spring Festival Dancer (as Kim Hazel)
Ashia Meyers	...	Spring Festival Dancer
Mitsuyo Miyazaki	...	Spring Festival Dancer (as Kiyoka Miyazaki)
Shiho Miyazawa	...	Spring Festival Dancer
Minae Noji	...	Spring Festival Dancer
Mami Saito	...	Spring Festival Dancer
Shannon Abero	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Kiyoko Ando	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Miki Fujita	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Chieko Hidaka	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Wendy Lam	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Kana Miyamoto	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Brooke Miyasaki	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Nao Nojima	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Shelly Oto	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Nikki Tuazon	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Addie Yungmee	...	Festival Rehearsal Dancer
Cassidy Adams	...	Student Dancer
Celena Ahn	...	Student Dancer
Allison Chan	...	Student Dancer
Deziree Del Rosario	...	Student Dancer
Emilie Endow	...	Student Dancer
Rosie Endow	...	Student Dancer
Hannah Hwang	...	Student Dancer
Emma Fusako Ishii	...	Student Dancer
Amy Saki Kawakami	...	Student Dancer
Stefani Lee	...	Student Dancer
Teanna Lee	...	Student Dancer
Melissa Morinishi	...	Student Dancer
Michelle Obi	...	Student Dancer
Kasey Okazaki	...	Student Dancer
Jacqueline Osaki	...	Student Dancer
Ayaka Oyama	...	Student Dancer
Jade Refuerzo	...	Student Dancer
La Na Shi	...	Student Dancer (as Meng Shi)
Stacy Suzuki	...	Student Dancer
Miwa Tachibana	...	Student Dancer
Jordan Tambara	...	Student Dancer
Shaye Uyematsu	...	Student Dancer
Etsuo Hongo	...	Shamisen Musician
Tateo Takahashi	...	Shamisen Musician
Masakazu Yoshizawa	...	Shamisen Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kazumi Aihara	...	The Baron's Guest (uncredited)
Jennie Baek	...	Geisha (uncredited)
Yuki Bird	...	Wealthy Guest (uncredited)
Michael Chen	...	Rickshaw Driver (uncredited)
Maggie Hai-Uyen	...	Guest of the Baron (uncredited)
Halla	...	Maiko (uncredited)
James Huang	...	Spa Worker (uncredited)
Eiji Inoue	...	(uncredited)
Masa Kanome	...	Radio Caster (uncredited)
Branden Weslee Kong	...	Rickshaw Driver (uncredited)
Aurelie Kyinn	...	Wealthy Guest (uncredited)
Teddy Lau	...	Noodle Chef (uncredited)
Stacey Lee	...	Maiko (uncredited)
Jon Liggett	...	Drunken G.I. (uncredited)
Julia Ling	...	Spring Festival Dancer (uncredited)
Jia Mae	...	Sexy Geisha (uncredited)
Tohoru Masamune	...	Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Danton Mew	...	Takamaya Towel Servant (uncredited)
Ryan Moriarty	...	Teahouse Patron (uncredited)
Tam Nguyen	...	Maiko (uncredited)
Sophie Oda	...	Kimono Factory Worker (uncredited)
Ricky Pak	...	Spa Patron (uncredited)
Steffinnie Phrommany	...	Geisha (uncredited)
Catherine Kim Poon	...	Geisha (uncredited)
Austin Michael Scott	...	Drunken G.I. (uncredited)
Cathy Shim	...	The Baron's Guest (uncredited)
Aaron Takahashi	...	Rickshaw Runner (uncredited)
Ray Tom	...	Spa Patron (uncredited)
Henry T. Yamada	...	Sumo Judge (uncredited)
Joseph Steven Yang	...	Spa Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Marshall

Writing credits (WGA)
Robin Swicord		(screenplay)
Arthur Golden		(book)

Produced by
Gary Barber	....	executive producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	executive producer
Bobby Cohen	....	executive producer
John DeLuca	....	co-producer
Lucy Fisher	....	producer
Steven Spielberg	....	producer
Patricia Whitcher	....	executive producer
Douglas Wick	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Dion Beebe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pietro Scalia

Casting by
Francine Maisler
Nina Henninger		(uncredited)

Production Design by
John Myhre

Art Direction by
Patrick M. Sullivan Jr.

Set Decoration by
Gretchen Rau

Costume Design by
Colleen Atwood

Makeup Department
Trish Almeida	....	key hair stylist
Kate Biscoe	....	department head makeup
Miia Kovero	....	key hair stylist
Todd McIntosh	....	key makeup artist (as Todd A. McIntosh)
Ben Nye Jr.	....	special effects makeup artist
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair designer
Miho Suzuki	....	hair stylist: Japan
Miho Suzuki	....	makeup artist: Japan
Christien Tinsley	....	prosthetic makeup
Kelvin R. Trahan	....	department head hair
Noriko Watanabe	....	makeup designer
Victoria Wood	....	wig maker
Donna J. Anderson	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Marc Boyle	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Katrina Chevalier	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
David DeLeon	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Hitomi Golba	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Connie Grayson Criswell	....	contact lens technician (uncredited)
Pilar Harlow	....	contact lens technician (uncredited)
Teressa Hill	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
David Larson	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Thomas Opitz	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Cristina Patterson Ceret	....	contact lens coordinator/painter (uncredited)
Raissa Patton	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Yoichi Art Sakamoto	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Robin Slater	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Michele Tyminski	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Terrie Velazquez Owen	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Karen Zanki	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tsutomu Adachi	....	production manager: Japan
Cellin Gluck	....	unit production manager: Japan
Don J. Hug	....	production supervisor: Northern California
Leeann Stonebreaker	....	production supervisor
Patricia Whitcher	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John DeLuca	....	second unit director
Emi Fukuda	....	second assistant director: Japan
Eric Heffron	....	first assistant director (as Eric N. Heffron)
Michael J. Moore	....	second assistant director
David K. Riebel	....	second second assistant director (as David Riebel)
Yusuke Takeda	....	second assistant director: Japan
Marvin Williams	....	second second assistant director: Northern California (as Marvin J. Williams Jr.)
Anne Carroll	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)
Grace Liu	....	second assistant director: San Francisco (uncredited)
Ellen Rosentreter	....	day player additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Greg Berry	....	assistant art director
Steve Brennan	....	on-set dresser (as Steven Brennan)
J.C. Brown	....	graphic designer
John Carroll	....	construction foreman
Patrick Cassidy	....	leadman
Clete Cetrone	....	construction foreman
William Rob Chalk	....	on-set dresser (as William R. Chalk)
Fred Deyoe	....	construction foreman
Jann K. Engel	....	set designer (as Jann Engel)
Robert Fechtman	....	set designer
Emily Ferry	....	property master
Elizabeth Flaherty	....	art department coordinator
Shogo Fujii	....	property master: Japan
Darek Gogol	....	illustrator
Michael E. Goldman	....	assistant art director: Northern California (as Michael Goldman)
Donnie Grant	....	stand-by painter
John Guliano	....	construction foreman (as John J. Giuliano)
John Hoskins	....	construction coordinator
Luis G. Hoyos	....	set designer (as Luis Hoyos)
Makoto Ibuki	....	set decorator: Japan
Stuart John	....	construction foreman (as Henry S. John)
Robert Lambert	....	general construction foreman
Dwight Lowell	....	construction foreman (as Dwight T. Lowell)
Kumiko Mizuno	....	prop advisor
Yasuyuki Ogawa	....	set decorator: Japan
Dan Ondrejko	....	greens foreman (as Daniel L. Ondrejko)
Edmond Scott Ratliff	....	assistant props (as Scott Ratliff)
Brian Rock	....	labor foreman (as Brian J. Rock)
Rich Romig	....	set designer
Jerry Sargent	....	propmaker foreman (as Jerry L. Sargent)
Maya Shimoguchi	....	set designer
Kazuo Tashima	....	art director: Japan
Joy Taylor	....	assistant property master
Jeffrey Thomas	....	stand-by greensman
Lisa Vasconcellos	....	art department coordinator
Tomas Voth	....	supervising art director
Tim Wessling	....	construction foreman: Northern California
Greg Wilkinson	....	assistant props
Clyde Zimmerman	....	paint supervisor
Gunnar Ahmer	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Emilio R. Aramendia	....	set dressing foreman: Northern California crew (uncredited)
Greg Aronowitz	....	conceptual model maker (uncredited)
Carlo Basail	....	greens foreman (uncredited)
Richard J. Bell	....	greens foreman (uncredited)
Craig Bernatzke	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
James W. Boyce	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Adam Braid	....	buyer (uncredited)
Shane Buckallew	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Dan Colegrove	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
Susan Corbell	....	specialty prop builder (uncredited)
Richard Crain	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Richard Crain	....	foreman (uncredited)
Vincent D'Aquino	....	greens foreman (uncredited)
Yann Denoual	....	sculptor gang boss (uncredited)
Michael P. Finnegan	....	tool technician (uncredited)
Chad S. Frey	....	set designer (uncredited)
Neil Garland	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
J. Bryan Holloway	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Lawrence Hornbeck	....	props: Northern California (uncredited)
Bob Huffman	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Travis Huffman	....	propmaker foreman (uncredited)
Tommy John	....	painter gangboss (uncredited)
Scott Johnson	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Kent Jones	....	paint foremen (uncredited)
Michele Maria Kitagawa	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)
Richard Lambert	....	gang boss: set (uncredited)
Michael Marcus	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Jeff Markwith	....	set designer (uncredited)
Masako Masuda	....	set designer (uncredited)
Chet Maxwell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Doni McMillan	....	gangboss (uncredited)
Robert Misetich	....	set paint foreman (uncredited)
John S. Ogden	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Bruce Richter	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Liza Rudolph	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Tommy Samona	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Hugo Santiago	....	leadman set designer (uncredited)
Quentin Schierenberg	....	gang boss (uncredited)
Patte Strong-Lord	....	set designer (uncredited)
Tom Talley	....	location foreman (uncredited)
Robert Van Dyke	....	propmaker foreman (uncredited)
Mark Warren	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Frank White	....	welding foreman (uncredited)
Robert Wilbanks	....	supervising plaster foreman (uncredited)
Tracey Wilson	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist (as Michael Broomberg)
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
Kelly Doran	....	sound utility
Julie Feiner	....	dialogue editor
Linda Folk	....	adr editor
Hector C. Gika	....	sound effects editor (as Hector Gika)
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor (as Laura Harris Atkinson)
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Rick Kline	....	supervising sound mixer
Howard London	....	adr mixer
James Morioka	....	assistant sound editor
Kevin O'Connell	....	supervising sound mixer
Michelle Pazer	....	dialogue editor (as Michele Pazer)
John Pritchett	....	production mixer
David M. Roberts	....	boom operator
Brian Ruberg	....	foley mixer
Greg P. Russell	....	supervising sound mixer
Joe Schiff	....	assistant sound editor
Ann Scibelli	....	sound effects editor
Dan Sharp	....	sound re-recordist
Branden Spencer	....	assistant sound editor
Wylie Stateman	....	supervising sound editor
Renee Tondelli	....	adr supervisor
Renee Tondelli	....	dialogue supervisor
Steven J. Berger	....	assistant sound (uncredited)
Esther Chae	....	adr (uncredited)
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Michael Hertlein	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Michael Hertlein	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Lenny Rabinowitz	....	adr recording engineer (uncredited)
Ann Scibelli	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Eric Taylor Williamson	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Scott R. Fisher	....	special effects coordinator
Jay King	....	special effects technician (as Jay B. King)
Jim Rollins	....	special effects foreman (as James S. Rollins)
Leo Leoncio Solis	....	special effects technician (as Leo Solis)
Scot Erb	....	assistant model maker (uncredited)
John Fleming	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Ian O'Connor	....	special effects supervisor: title sequence (uncredited)
Arthur G. Schlosser	....	snow effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Brian Battles	....	compositor: Digital Backlot
Danny Braet	....	digital effects supervisor: CafeFX
Lee Carlton	....	digital artist: CafeFX
Matthew Collorafice	....	digital artist: CafeFX (as Matt Collorafice)
Steve Dellerson	....	visual effects producer: Cafe FX
Thomas F. Ford IV	....	production support: Digital Backlot (as Tom Ford)
Julia Frey	....	visual effects producer
Jeff Goldman	....	digital artist: CafeFX
Paul Graff	....	compositing supervisor
Diana Hinek	....	rotoscope: Digital Backlot
Elizabeth Hirsch	....	production manager: Digital Backlot
Josh McGuire	....	digital artist: CafeFX (as Josh McGwire)
Daniel Naulin	....	digital artist: CafeFX
Bryant Reif	....	digital effects supervisor: CafeFX
Robert Stromberg	....	visual effects supervisor
Adam Watkins	....	3D lead: Digital Backlot
Jeff Barnes	....	production executive: CafeFX (uncredited)
Matthew Collorafice	....	compositor (uncredited)
David Ebner	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Vicki Galloway-Weimer	....	visual effects executive producer: CafeFX (uncredited)
Scott Gregory	....	digital film colorist (uncredited)
Diana Hinek	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
David Hochstadter	....	digital artist: CafeFX (uncredited)
Steve Hutchins	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Derek Krauss	....	digital paint and rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Votch Levi	....	digital compositor: CafeFX (uncredited)
Lap Van Luu	....	IT support: CafeFX (uncredited)
Lap Van Luu	....	data I/O: CafeFX (uncredited)
Brandon MacDougall	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Ed Mendez	....	digital compositor: CafeFx (uncredited)
Toby Newell	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Brian Openshaw	....	render manager (uncredited)
Ruben Rodas	....	paint/roto artist: CafeFX (uncredited)
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration (uncredited)
Danny Torres	....	systems administrator (uncredited)
O.D. Welch	....	production executive: CafeFX (uncredited)
Radost Yonkova	....	digital artist: CafeFX (uncredited)

Stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunt coordinator
Hannah Ha Joo	....	stunts (as Hannah Joo)
Will Leong	....	stunts
Joey Nawa	....	stunts
Michiko Nishiwaki	....	stunts
Ming Qiu	....	stunts
Allen Robinson	....	stunt coordinator
Marise Wong	....	stunts
Boni Yanagisawa	....	stunts
Andy Arness	....	precision driver (uncredited)
George Cheung	....	stunts (uncredited)
Phil Chong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eliza Coleman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Craig H. Davidson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jonathan Eusebio	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roel Failma	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hannah Ha Joo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Amy Saki Kawakami	....	stunts (uncredited)
Brian L. Keaulana	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jon W. Kishi	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hiro Koda	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Palermo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Simon Rhee	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry Rippenkroeger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jen Sung	....	stunts (uncredited)
Philip Tan	....	stunts (uncredited)
James D. Weston II	....	precision driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul C. Babin	....	camera operator: "c" camera
Michael Barrere	....	best boy grip (as Michel Barrere)
John Buckley	....	chief lighting technician
George Cacamise	....	dolly grip (as George F. Caccamise)
Alfred Castillo	....	rigging best boy grip (as Alfred M. Castillo)
Gary Dahlquist	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Cameron Duncan	....	camera loader
John Grillo	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Yuji Higashida	....	gaffer: Japan
David James	....	still photographer
Sion Michel	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Sion Michel	....	director of photography: second unit
E.J. Misisco	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as E.J. Misisco Jr.)
Brad Rea	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Donald Reynolds Jr.	....	rigging key grip (as Don Reynolds Jr.)
Scott M. Robinson	....	key grip
Peter Rosenfeld	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Rosenfeld	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Andi Ruane	....	rigging grip
Paul Santoni	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Kenji Tozaki	....	key grip: Japan
Doug Weinmann	....	rigging best boy electric
Chuck Weiss	....	video assist operator
Michael D. Weldon	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
R. Michael Yope	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Michael Yope)
Ross Addiego	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
John H.L. Baker	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Ken Bazal	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Chris Bennett	....	lighting programmer (uncredited)
Shane Buttle	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Glenn Cannon	....	digital video assist operator (uncredited)
Bruce Chimerofsky	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
James M. Chizmar Jr.	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Ian Chriss	....	grip (uncredited)
Elisha Christian	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Gregory Collis	....	grip diver: San Francisco (uncredited)
Jeffrey A. Cook	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chris Cuevas	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jose Danner	....	rigging grip foreman (uncredited)
Joshua Davis	....	rigging electrician (2004-2005) (uncredited)
Jack Davison	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Jonathan Doff	....	video assist: Northern California (uncredited)
Daniel Duggan	....	company grip (uncredited)
Eric Dvorsky	....	assistant remote head technician (uncredited)
John Fine	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Glenn Fishel	....	grip (uncredited)
Michael Franco	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jordan Garretson	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Steve Gilbert	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Jason Griffiths	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Craig Grossmueller	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Allen Harker	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Don Hayashi	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Chiabella James	....	digital assistant to still photographer (uncredited)
Joel Jaspan	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
David Levich	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Zachary Love	....	key rigging grip: San Francisco (uncredited)
William McLachlan	....	lighting director (uncredited)
Phil Miller	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Mazi Mitchell	....	electrician (uncredited)
Darin Moran	....	assistant camera: "c" camera (uncredited)
Noe Nava	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Sean Shinneman	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Sean-Michael Smith	....	rigging set lighting technician (uncredited)
Bruce Swift	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
John Trapman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Marshall Valentine	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Mark Vollmer	....	camera support boat (uncredited)
Lou Weinert	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Eric Zucker	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Abellera	....	casting assistant
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Kathy Driscoll	....	casting associate (as Kathleen Driscoll-Mohler)
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting
Kathleen Tomasik	....	casting associate
Max Bollinger	....	casting: UK (uncredited)
Patti Carns Kalles	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting (uncredited)
Nancy Hayes	....	extras casting: San Francisco (uncredited)
Jason James	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)
Sarah Kliban	....	location casting assistant (uncredited)
Laurie Levine	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)
Jadin Wong	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Ambrosino	....	specialty costumer
Amy Arnold	....	costumer (as Amy L. Arnold)
Cheryl Beasley Blackwell	....	costume supervisor
Christine Cantella	....	costumer
Jay Cheng	....	costumer
Barry Kellogg	....	costumer
Colleen Kelsall	....	assistant costume designer (as Colleen Grenier-Kelsall)
Brenda Laidlaw	....	set costumer
Karen Naser	....	costume cutter: women
Donna O'Neal	....	key set costumer
Rob Phillips	....	specialty costume manufacturer
Rob Phillips	....	costume textile artist
Felipe Sanchez	....	costume illustrator
Michael Sloan	....	costume cutter: men
Ivory Stanton	....	costume ager/dyer
Haik Tateossian	....	fabric dyer & printer
Dale Wibben	....	costume cutter: women
Marcy Craig	....	costumer (uncredited)
Deborah Curtis	....	costumer (uncredited)
Brenda Donoho	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Tina Dowd	....	costumer (uncredited)
Monica Haynes-Nino	....	costumer (uncredited)
Mathew Hooey	....	additional costumer (uncredited)
Phillip Howard	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Tom Macdonald	....	costumer (uncredited)
Philip Maldonado	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Guy Miracle	....	costumer (uncredited)
Kelsey T. Morgan	....	costume intern (uncredited)
Nino	....	costumer (uncredited)
Shelli Nishino	....	costumer (uncredited)
Damien Quinn	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Leticia Sandoval	....	specialty costumes (uncredited)
Thomas Sjolander	....	embroidery (uncredited)
Ric Spencer	....	costumer (uncredited)
Douglas J. Stewart	....	textile artist (uncredited)
Gillian Waterman	....	costumer (uncredited)
Tim Wilson	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Valerio Bonelli	....	associate editor
Seth Clark	....	set assistant editor: Avid
Robert Drwila	....	assistant editor (as Bob Drwila)
Scott Gregory	....	digital colorist
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Anette Pillau	....	post-production assistant
Chisako Yokoyama	....	assistant editor
Bruce Lomet	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)
Jim Passon	....	film color timer (uncredited)
Mark Sahagun	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Lawrence Howard Williams	....	post digital media operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Ramiro Belgardt	....	music editor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Hiromi Hashibe	....	musician: koto soloist
Masayo Ishigure	....	musician: koto soloist
Edward Karam	....	orchestrator (as Eddie Karam)
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor (as Ken Karman)
Yo-Yo Ma	....	musician: cello solos
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
Itzhak Perlman	....	musician: violin solos
Conrad Pope	....	orchestrator
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor (as Ken Wannberg)
Masakazu Yoshizawa	....	musician: shakuhachi soloist
Andy Bass	....	scoring crew (uncredited)
Tim Boot	....	scoring cue mixer (uncredited)
Bryan Clements	....	scoring crew (uncredited)
Mark Eshelman	....	scoring crew (uncredited)
Melissa Deanne Ferguson	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Mark Graham	....	music librarian (uncredited)
Karen Han	....	musician: Erhu solo (uncredited)
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring crew (uncredited)
Greg Loskorn	....	scoring technician (uncredited)
David Marquette	....	score recordist (uncredited)
Adam Michalak	....	score recordist (uncredited)
Jeremy Raub	....	co-music editor (uncredited)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn (uncredited)
Pat Weber	....	scoring technician (uncredited)
John Williams	....	conductor (uncredited)
Robert Wolff	....	scoring crew (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Denny Caira	....	transportation captain
Mike Shannon	....	transportation co-captain (as Raymond Michael Shannon)
Yu Yamada	....	transportation captain: Japan
Vaughn Bladen	....	driver (uncredited)
Karen K. Chang	....	transportation office coordinator (uncredited)
Marc Lebeaune	....	driver (uncredited)
Doug S. MacLean	....	driver (uncredited)
William R. Peck	....	driver (uncredited)
Tina Peterson	....	driver (uncredited)
Tom Rebber	....	transportation captain (uncredited)
Jose M. Sanchez	....	driver (uncredited)
John F. Teeple	....	driver (uncredited)
James Waitkus	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
H. Leah Amir	....	craft service (as Leah Amir)
Morgan Bailey	....	production assistant
Madeline Bell	....	assistant location manager
Takashi Bernhardt	....	assistant: Mr. Yakusho
Francie Brown	....	additional dialect coach
Kim Buttlar	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Barber
Susannah Carradine	....	production assistant
Jeffrey Caruso	....	assistant production coordinator: Northern California (as Jeff Caruso)
Sue Chipperton	....	animal trainer
Chad Cleven	....	production assistant
David Cohen	....	mold shop supervisor
Peter Costelli	....	assistant location manager
Liza Dalby	....	consultant: geisha
Nour Dardari	....	production controller
John DeLuca	....	choreographer
Jon Dorflinger	....	production assistant
Jessica Drake	....	supervising dialect coach
Linda Emmons-Cunningham	....	assistant location manager: Northern California (as Linda Emmons Cunningham)
Scot Erb	....	production assistant
Cecilia Escobar	....	assistant accountant
Mike Fantasia	....	location manager
Ryan Faust	....	production assistant
Denise Faye	....	associate choreographer
Kazutaka Fukushima	....	location manager: Japan
Kate Galbraith	....	production assistant (as Katherine M. Galbraith)
Tom Gire	....	synthesizer programmer
Noelle Green	....	production coordinator
Diana Hammons	....	production assistant
Shawheen Hazrati	....	production assistant
Saisie M. Jang	....	assistant location manager: Northern California
Melissa Judd	....	production assistant
Hiroki Kashiwagi	....	production assistant
Dan Kemp	....	location manager: Northern California (as Daniel Kemp)
Natasha Klibansky	....	assistant: Mr. Wick
Yuko T. Koach	....	consultant: Kimono, Kimono Creations (as Yuko Tokunaga)
Danika Kohler	....	assistant production coordinator
Anna Leung	....	assistant: Ms. Yeoh
James Taku Leung	....	production assistant (as Jimmy Leung)
Sharon Lopez	....	production secretary: Northern California
Emma Ludbrook	....	assistant: Mr. Cohen
Kristie Macosko	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg
Donny Martino Jr.	....	assistant location manager
Jeanette L. McDuffie	....	assistant: Ms. Gong (as Jeanette McDuffie)
Troy McGatlin	....	assistant accountant
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor
Sandra McNeil	....	studio teacher (as Sandra McNeill)
Meg Mimura	....	translator: Japanese
Peggy Mulloy	....	unit publicist
Tim Nagasawa	....	production assistant
Yôko Narahashi	....	liaison: Japanese (as Yoko Narahashi)
Izumi Noda	....	interpretor: Japan
Jimmy O'Connell	....	marine coordinator (as James Joseph O'Connell)
Asako Ogiwara	....	production assistant
Disha Patel-Webb	....	production assistant (as Disha Patel)
Mike Patlin	....	pilot
Amy Peltonen	....	assistant: Mr. Wick
Greg Pisarski	....	production assistant
Matt Reitsma	....	textile artist
Kim Ronstadt	....	assistant accountant
Arthur Roses	....	associate: Mr. Marshall
Trevor Sagan	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Janell M. Sammelman	....	production assistant (as Janell Sammelman)
Meghan Snyder	....	assistant: Ms. Fisher
John Sponsler	....	synthesizer programmer
Paula Stier	....	production secretary
Miyako Tachibana	....	dance consultant: Japanese
Asako Takeuchi Glendenning	....	assistant: Mr. Watanabe (as Asako Takeuchi)
Marlena Thomas	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Birnbaum
Michael Totten	....	assistant: Ms. Whitcher
Marvin Williams	....	production assistant (as Marvin J. Williams Jr.)
Hailey C. Wu	....	translator: Chinese
Xin Yang	....	assistant: Ms. Zhang (as Yang Xin)
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout (uncredited)
Matt Barrie	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Richard J. Bosner	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brinton Bryan	....	set production assistant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Bill Buck	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Carol Chow	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kaiser Clark	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Deborah Dellosso	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Kalynn Dodge	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jon Donahue	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Derek Ferguson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Paula Frankel	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Andrew Freund	....	consultant: Sumo (uncredited)
Flax Glor	....	publicist (uncredited)
Daniel Gonzalez	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Kenneth Hunter	....	location scout (uncredited)
Sachiyo K	....	Japanese dialogue sample (uncredited)
Eli Akira Kaufman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Angie Kern	....	set medic (uncredited)
Branden Weslee Kong	....	photo double (uncredited)
Ted Leonard	....	key set assistant (uncredited)
Jim Maguire	....	set production assistant: San Francisco (uncredited)
Holly McGreevy	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Blair Mealing	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Michael Miller	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Peter Moody	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Dave Moorer	....	set medic (uncredited)
Neal Naito	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Cynthia Phillips	....	post-production accounts (uncredited)
Dennis Post	....	production assistant: Sacramento (uncredited)
Anisa Qureshi	....	production assistant: Los Angeles/San Francisco (uncredited)
Yvonne Ramond	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Bobby Ravanshenas	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Jon Recher	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Sandy Reed	....	craft service (uncredited)
Matthew Riutta	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Brad Robinson	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Chris Rudolph	....	location scout: Canada (uncredited)
Emily Samuel	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jessa Santens	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sheller	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Cody Smith	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Jina Song	....	model (uncredited)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Linda Wang	....	kimono model: Li Gong and Michelle Yeoh (uncredited)
Dale Wilmarth	....	mold maker foreman (uncredited)
Mari Wilson	....	additional script supervisor (uncredited)
Oorala Yamada	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Garson Yu	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Keiko Aoki	....	special thanks
James Danziger	....	special thanks
John McMullen	....	special thanks
Katsu Michite	....	special thanks: Teahouse Food
Jun Ogawa	....	special thanks
Maura Powell	....	special thanks
Kozu Shokai	....	special thanks
Yasuhito Yagi	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• DreamWorks SKG
• Spyglass Entertainment
• Amblin Entertainment
• Red Wagon Entertainment (as Red Wagon Entertainment)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Spyglass Entertainment (2005) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• DreamWorks SKG (2005) (non-USA) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Shochiku Company (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Blu Shine (2007) (Argentina) (DVD) (Widescreen Edition)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Net5 (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Paradise Group (2005) (Russia) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television (200?) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digital Backlot (visual effects)
• CafeFX (additional visual effects) (as Cafefx)
• Professional VisionCare Associates (special contact lenses) (as Professional Visioncare Associates)
• Tinsley Studio (special make-up effects: Kôji Yakusho)

Other Companies

• Armytrucks  military vehicles (uncredited)
• Bender ET  GFCI shock protection provided by (uncredited)
• California Film Commission  special thanks
• California State Park System  special thanks (as California State Parks)
• California State Railroad Museum  special thanks
• California Sumo Association  special thanks
• Central Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• City of San Francisco  special thanks
• County of San Francisco  special thanks
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as Deluxe)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Deluxe  prints by
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine  special thanks
• Heian Jingu Shrine  special thanks (as Heianjingu Shrine)
• IVC  post-production facilities (digital mastering)
• Inflatable Crowd Company, The  inflatable mannequins (uncredited)
• KC Stylist  consultant: Kimono
• Keihan Shoukai  special thanks
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Kyoto Yoshiminedera Temple  special thanks
• Manhattan Transfer  adr facility (uncredited)
• National Park Service, The  special thanks
• Packair Airfreight  international logistics (uncredited)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Pictorvision  stabilized ground head
• Reel Team, The  voice casting
• Scarlet Letters  end title crawl
• Set Security  location security (uncredited)
• Shimada City Office  special thanks: Commerce and Industry Division
• Sony Classical  soundtrack on
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production sound mixing (as Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California)
• Teahouse Food  special thanks
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• United Performers' Studio  casting (uncredited)
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment
• yU+Co.  main and end title sequence designed by (as yU+co.)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature subject matter and some sexual content

Runtime:

145 min | Philippines:140 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

China:(Banned) | Finland:K-11 | UK:12A | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Ireland:12A | Czech Republic:12 | Sweden:7 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Indonesia:Dewasa | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:14 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Canada Video Rating/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | France:Unrated | France:U | Singapore:NC-16 (special edition DVD) | Iceland:L | Hungary:14 | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41007) | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade)

Filming Locations:

American River, Sacramento, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Mameha declines from attending the Baron's party, Hatsumomo viciously asks 'taking care of a little nuisance?'. While never fully divulged in the film, the book goes onto explain that Mameha had gone for an abortion.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Hatsumomo and Pumpkin are leaving on the night of Pumpkin's debut, neither Mother nor Auntie spark flint on their backs. A Geisha would never leave her okiya without this act being performed as it was believed it brought good luck.

Quotes:

The Baron:[after Sayuri discovers the teapot she is pouring from is empty] I'm sure if there was one drop left in that pot, Sayuri would have gotten it out!
[other male patrons laugh]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tetsuko no heya 30nen special (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tsugaru Jyangara Bushi

The best film I've seen all year, and I've seen some great films.

This is the most unfairly maligned film of the year. Some critics took it upon themselves to be the defenders of Japanese culture (without fully researching their arguments) and, in the process, betrayed their own racism. "The film is inauthentic because the actresses do not wear matronly bouffants," one said. Riiiiiight. Matronly bouffants are a Western stereotype! But in any case, some of them do and some don't! THAT'S authenticity. I guess critics wouldn't know that writing reviews without seeing the film or walking out long before it's over (some, such as Jeff Wells, do).

Anyway, it's a fantastic film and more than deserving of multiple Academy award nominations - which it may not get thanks to the fact that so many people decided they wanted to use the film as the sacrificial lamb for a half-baked debate about international politics, rather consider that pan-Asian casting for major roles is NOTHING new (it's true of House of Flying Daggers, The Joy Luck Club and even Crouching Tiger) and that this film's production might represent international cooperation at its best.

Look out for Gong Li and Youki Kudoh in RICHLY developed supporting roles. The supporting males, while obviously not as well developed since they spend less time in the geisha quarters, still give incredible performances. Ken Watanabe was excellent, but I particularly enjoyed the performance of the actor playing Nobu. Oprah is right about the sets and costumes; they (amongst other things) make you want to savor every moment of the film. Some people have argued that the brilliant colors make it seem like some sort of Orientalist fantasy. Truth is that this would only be the case if we saw a departure from a more sedate West to a flamboyant East; instead, the film opens in a rather sedate part of Japan and then takes us to the more colorful geisha district (which introduces this fascinating paradox of great suffering in a milieu of tremendous beauty). We know from Chicago that it's simply Rob Marshall's aesthetic to make everything the height of beauty, even if it's a slum. God forbid ENTERTAINMENT CIRCLES should be presented as visually spectacular! The film is by turns funny, moving and, yes, thrilling. Gasps in the audience for the film's third act gave way to sniffles. Ziyi Zhang really managed any language difficulties well; her face has this ripple effect when she's emoting. It's stunning to behold. If I were voting for the Oscars, I'd definitely give her a nomination at the very least. And homegirl can dance, too! Her performance and the film itself are not boring at all; audience members laughed when she was trying to be funny and sighed when she was suffering. IMO, too much happens in the film for it to get boring; there's a strong balance between the rivalries, the details about geisha entertainment and the romance. In the final scene, it all comes full circle. I won't tell you how. See for yourself.

My #1 film of the year. Brokeback Mountain, Chronicles of Narnia, Howl's Moving Castle, King Kong and Grizzly Man aren't far behind.