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:

bare chested male | homosexual subtext | male male relationship | male female relationship | female sexual predator | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "The Teahouse of the August Moon" by John Patrick opened at the Martin Beck Theater in New York on October 15, 1953, ran for 1027 performances and won the 1954 Tony Award for the Best Play. Paul Ford recreated his stage role in the movie version.

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Quotes

Col. Wainwright Purdy III: Plan B calls for the schoolhouse to be pentagon-shaped.

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Connections

Referenced in The Trouble with Angels (1966)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Marlon Brando as Japanese?

Casting Marlon Brando in this film as Sakini, a Japanese interpreter for American troops in post WW-II Japan is considered by many critics and film historians alike as one of the worst casting errors ever made in a film history. In my opinion, though, Marlon Brando is the one responsible for turning this quite an average film into a hillarious comedy. Yes, they really did it. With a little bit of make up and great effort from actor's part to learn Japanese mannerism and language in order to get an accent in his speech we have here Marlon Brando in his most unimaginable role. The rest of the cast is also quite good, namely Paul Ford as Colonel Waiwright Purdy III, a somehow cliche figure of stubborn, narrow minded US military officer and Glenn Ford by his side as Captain Fisby, for whom Brando's character Sakini ends up working as an interpreter and, of cause, unforgettable Machiko Kyo, as a spirited geisha, whom lovers of Japanese cinema must remember from Akira Kurosawa's films.

Directed by Daniel Mann (Butterfield 8, Come Back, Little Sheba) and based on John Patrick's stage play that was a big hit on Broadway at it's time, The Teahouse of the August Moon is slow in parts and in terms of some aspects of the story considerably aged and outdated but still funny and entertaining movie. 8/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

December 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Teahouse of the August Moon

Filming Locations:

Nara, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$3,926,000 (estimated)

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