The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)

In post-WWII Japan, an American captain is brought in to help build a school, but the locals want a teahouse instead.

Director:

Daniel Mann

Writers:

John Patrick (screenplay), Vern J. Sneider (book)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford, Machiko Kyô

Nominated for 6 Golden Globes. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marlon Brando	...	Sakini
Glenn Ford	...	Capt. Fisby
Machiko Kyô	...	Lotus Blossom (as Machiko Kyo)
Eddie Albert	...	Capt. McLean
Paul Ford	...	Col. Wainwright Purdy III
Jun Negami	...	Mr. Seiko
Nijiko Kiyokawa	...	Miss Higa Jiga
Mitsuko Sawamura	...	Little Girl
Harry Morgan	...	Sgt. Gregovich (as Henry {Harry} Morgan)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jane Chung	...	Woman

Storyline

This comedy-drama is partially a gentle satire on America's drive to change the world in the post-war years. One year after World War II, Captain Fisby is sent to the village of Tobiki in Okinawa to teach the people democracy. The first step is to build a school -- but the wily Okinawans know what they really want. They tell him about their culture and traditions -- and persuade him to build something they really want instead: a teahouse. Fisby has a hard time breaking this news to his superiors.

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Plot Keywords:

democracy | village | satire | talking to the audience | looking at the audience | 

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Taglines:

All The Riotous Fun Of The Prize-Winning Stage Comedy!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

December 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

La casa de té de la luna de agosto

Filming Locations:

Nara, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$3,926,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$5,550,000, 31 December 1957

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,925,000, 31 December 1957

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo Stereo (Perspecta Sound)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55:1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were roughly 400,000 civilians on Okinawa at the time of the bombardment and invasion by American soldiers and Marines. Many thousands of them died.

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Quotes

Sakini: Socks up boss!

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Connections

Referenced in McHale's Navy: The August Teahouse of Quint McHale (1963)

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Soundtracks

Sakura Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
(uncredited)
Written and Arranged by Kikuko Kanai
Sung by Lotus Blossom

User Reviews

Fun and gentle view of cultures meeting

This film is an under-appreciated and charming little adventure set in the time immediately after World War II. It has a very enjoyable mix of some excellently-cast actors, from the laid-back Glenn Ford, the frenetic Eddie Albert, and the pompous Paul Ford, to the host of beguiling Japanese actors. Casting Marlon Brando as Sakini requires a little suspension of belief, but his contribution quickly adds to the seductive quality of the movie. It turns out to be a good send-up of the officious, but largely benign, senior military leadership of the era, but largely revolves around Glenn Ford's character, Capt. Fisby, finding his métier. Mainly it is a loving and alluring little fiction about two peoples getting to know and appreciate each other.

It is a very nice little comedy to be enjoyed, but it clearly is not meant to be a documentary representation of U.S. Military occupation forces, and if it is viewed as such, much of the magic of the movie will be lost. While it may contain a few minor instances of the attitudes of that day, some of which are no longer politically correct, there is no malice in the characterizations and the overall message is one of appreciation of both cultures. A very enjoyable way to escape the hassle and hustle of today.