Sayonara (1957)

A US air force major in Kobe confronts his own opposition to marriages between American servicemen and Japanese women when he falls for a beautiful performer.

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Paul Osborn (screen play), James A. Michener (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Ricardo Montalban, Patricia Owens

Won 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marlon Brando	...	Major Lloyd 'Ace' Gruver
Patricia Owens	...	Eileen Webster
James Garner	...	Captain Bailey
Martha Scott	...	Mrs. Webster
Miiko Taka	...	Hana-Ogi
Miyoshi Umeki	...	Katsumi
Red Buttons	...	Airman Joe Kelly
Kent Smith	...	General Mark Webster
Douglass Watson	...	Colonel Crawford (as Douglas Watson)
Reiko Kuba	...	Fumiko-San
Soo Yong	...	Teruko-San
Shochiku Kagekidan Girls Revue	...	Theatrical Revue
Ricardo Montalban	...	Nakamura

Storyline

Major Lloyd Gruver, a Korean War flying ace reassigned to Japan, staunchly supports the military's opposition to marriages between American troops and Japanese women. But that's before Gruver experiences a love that challenges his own deeply set prejudices... and plunges him into conflict with the U.S. Air Force and Japan's own cultural taboos.

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Plot Keywords:

cultural differences | interracial marriage | interracial relationship | bare chested male | hairy chest | 

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Taglines:

"I am not allowed to love. But I will love you if that is your desire..." Marlon Brando and an exquisite new Japanese star. They LIVE James A. Michener's story of defiant desire. It is called "Sayonara"

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

20 December 1957 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Сайонара

Filming Locations:

Kyoto, Japan

Box Office

Gross USA:

$26,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pennebaker Productions,William Goetz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

147 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marlon Brando was not the first choice for the lead role. It was offered to Rock Hudson, but he chose to make A Farewell to Arms (1957) instead.

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Goofs

At the marionette show, Maj. Gruver crosses his hands, interlacing his fingers. Between shots his right hand appears covering his left fist.

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Quotes

Major Gruver: Are you gonna sit there with your bare face hangin' out and tell me you never heard of Tanabata?

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Connections

Referenced in You Bet Your Life: Episode #11.23 (1961)

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Soundtracks

Mountains Beyond the Moon
(1957) (uncredited)
Words by Carl Sigman
Lyrics by Franz Waxman

User Reviews

One of Brando's best

I really enjoyed this movie about the relationships that sometimes developed between American servicemen and Japanese women in post-war Japan--as well as the obstacles that prejudices created for them. Brando goes from having contempt for the Japanese (which is natural considering WW2) to falling in love with a Japanese woman and wanting to marry her. His performance is okay (I am not a major fan of his acting style) and the movie is marvelous throughout. Red Buttons received an Oscar for his touching performance of another GI who falls in love in Japan (though the Japanese women who plays opposite him also did a remarkable job).

I don't want to spoil it but the movie is a good one to watch with a box of tissues.

This movie manages to say SOMETHING and be entertaining at the same time. A mostly underrated gem.