Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Teahouse of the August Moon

  • 19561956
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,844
15
Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford, and Machiko Kyô in 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.
Play trailer3:44
1 Video
31 Photos
ComedyDrama
In post-WWII Japan, an American captain is brought in to help build a school, but the locals want a teahouse instead.In post-WWII Japan, an American captain is brought in to help build a school, but the locals want a teahouse instead.In post-WWII Japan, an American captain is brought in to help build a school, but the locals want a teahouse instead.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,844
15
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Daniel Mann
    • Writers
      • John Patrick(screenplay)
      • Vern J. Sneider(book)
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Glenn Ford
      • Machiko Kyô
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Daniel Mann
    • Writers
      • John Patrick(screenplay)
      • Vern J. Sneider(book)
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Glenn Ford
      • Machiko Kyô
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 9 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:44
    Trailer

    Photos31

    Marlon Brando in Japan during filming of "Teahouse of the August Moon, The"
    Marlon Brando in Japan during filming of "Teahouse of the August Moon, The"
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on location in Japan
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on location in Japan
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on location in Japan
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on location in Japan
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on the set
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on location in Japan
    "Teahouse of the August Moon, The" Marlon Brando on location in Japan
    Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, and Glenn Ford in Julius Caesar (1953)
    Marlon Brando in The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Sakini
    Glenn Ford
    Glenn Ford
    • Capt. Fisby
    Machiko Kyô
    Machiko Kyô
    • Lotus Blossom
    • (as Machiko Kyo)
    Eddie Albert
    Eddie Albert
    • Capt. McLean
    Paul Ford
    Paul Ford
    • Col. Wainwright Purdy III
    Jun Negami
    • Mr. Seiko
    Nijiko Kiyokawa
    • Miss Higa Jiga
    Mitsuko Sawamura
    • Little Girl
    Harry Morgan
    Harry Morgan
    • Sgt. Gregovich
    • (as Henry {Harry} Morgan)
    Jane Chung
    • Woman
    Carlo Fiore
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    John Grayson
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Harvey Jr.
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Miyoshi Jingu
    • Old Woman on Jeep
    • (uncredited)
    Roger McGee
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Dansho Miyazaki
    • Sumata's Father
    • (uncredited)
    Minoru Nishida
    • Mr. Sumata
    • (uncredited)
    Aya Oyama
    • Daughter on Jeep
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Daniel Mann
    • Writers
      • John Patrick(screenplay) (play)
      • Vern J. Sneider(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Sayonara
    7.0
    Sayonara
    The Ugly American
    6.6
    The Ugly American
    The Young Lions
    7.1
    The Young Lions
    Bedtime Story
    6.7
    Bedtime Story
    Désirée
    6.3
    Désirée
    The Appaloosa
    6.3
    The Appaloosa
    The Night of the Following Day
    6.0
    The Night of the Following Day
    The Men
    7.1
    The Men
    The Wild One
    6.8
    The Wild One
    Morituri
    7.0
    Morituri
    Viva Zapata!
    7.3
    Viva Zapata!
    The Fugitive Kind
    7.1
    The Fugitive Kind

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Marlon Brando's performance was so convincingly Japanese that many theater exhibitors reported moviegoers demanding their money back because Brando never appeared on screen.
    • Goofs
      Col Purdy counts his shorts on the washing line and totals 7 when there are only 6 there.
    • Quotes

      Sakini: Pain make man think. Thought make man wise. Wisdom make life endurable.

    • Connections
      Featured in Okinawa: Keystone of the Pacific (1973)
    • Soundtracks
      Sakura Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
      (uncredited)

      Written and Arranged by Kikuko Kanai

      Sung by Lotus Blossom

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    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
    helpful•18
    6
    • IlyaMauter
    • May 5, 2003

    FAQ8

    • What is 'The Teahouse of the August Moon' about?
    • Is 'The Teahouse of the August Moon' based on a book?
    • Where is Okinawa?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Cajdzinica na avgustovskoj mesecini
    • Filming locations
      • Nara, Japan
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,926,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • 4-Track Stereo

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford, and Machiko Kyô in The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in August
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Back to top
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.