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IMDbPro

Sayonara

  • 1957
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
Marlon Brando and Miiko Taka in 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.
Play trailer4:00
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaRomance

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.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.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
    • James A. Michener
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Ricardo Montalban
    • Patricia Owens
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    7.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joshua Logan
    • Writers
      • Paul Osborn
      • James A. Michener
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Ricardo Montalban
      • Patricia Owens
    • 54User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 4:00
    Watch Trailer

    Photos106

    Marlon Brando and Miiko Taka in Sayonara (1957)
    Marlon Brando and Miiko Taka in "Sayonara" 1957 Warner Bros.
    Marlon Brando and Miiko Taka in "Sayonara" 1957 Warner Bros.
    Marlon Brando with Miiko Taka in "Sayonara" 1957 Warner Bros.
    Marlon Brando in "Sayonara" 1957 Warner Bros.
    Marlon Brando Miyoshi Umeki and Red Buttons in "Sayonara" 1957 Warner Bros.
    "Sayonara" Red Buttons 1957 Warner
    "Sayonara" James Garner, Marlon Brando, Miyoshi Umeki, Red Buttons 1957 Warner Bros.
    Marlon Brando on the set of "Sayonara"
    Sayonara (1957)
    Marlon Brando in Sayonara (1957)
    Marlon Brando and Miiko Taka in Sayonara (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Major Lloyd Gruver
    Ricardo Montalban
    Ricardo Montalban
    • Nakamura
    Patricia Owens
    Patricia Owens
    • Eileen Webster
    James Garner
    James Garner
    • Captain Mike Bailey
    Martha Scott
    Martha Scott
    • Mrs. Webster
    Miiko Taka
    Miiko Taka
    • Hana-Ogi
    Miyoshi Umeki
    Miyoshi Umeki
    • Katsumi
    Red Buttons
    Red Buttons
    • Joe Kelly
    Kent Smith
    Kent Smith
    • General Mark Webster
    Douglass Watson
    Douglass Watson
    • Colonel Crawford
    • (as Douglas Watson)
    Reiko Kuba
    • Fumiko-San
    Soo Yong
    Soo Yong
    • Teruko-San
    Shochiku Kagekidan Girls Revue
    • Theatrical Revue
    Peter Brown
    Peter Brown
    • Second Military Police
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Jane Chung
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    Carlo Fiori
    • Chaplain
    • (uncredited)
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Military Police
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Kenner G. Kemp
    Kenner G. Kemp
    • General at Tokyo Airport
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Joshua Logan
    • Writers
      • Paul Osborn
      • James A. Michener
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Audrey Hepburn was offered the role of a Japanese bride opposite Marlon Brando but turned it down. She explained that she "couldn't possibly play an Oriental. No one would believe me; they'd laugh. It's a lovely script, however I know what I can and can't do. And if you did persuade me, you would regret it, because I would be terrible."
    • Goofs
      In the last scene, when Major Gruver is leaving with Hana-Ogi and they are making their way to a car, Marlon Brando looks directly at the camera.
    • Quotes

      Hana-ogi: The pleasure does not lie in the end itself. It's in the pleasurable steps to that end.

    • Connections
      Featured in Slaying the Dragon (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Sayonara
      ("Goodbye") (1957)

      Words and Music by Irving Berlin

      Performed by Miiko Taka (uncredited)

    User reviews54

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Now that Brando has left the building...
    Brando's position in the pantheon of the greats is secure. Now that

    he is gone, (his life expired just yesterday) it will be worthwhile to

    review his legacy. Pictures like 'Sayonara', which were grade 'A'

    productions, but subject to criticism when they came out ,can now

    be viewed in a new light. We can now see the care lavished upon

    them. 'Sayonara' is a superb film in every category.

    Brando's odd (to say the least) 'southern' accent proves to be a

    brilliant choice in defining his character's contrasting presence in

    the Japanese scene, an approach he would employ later in his

    amazing, bizarre interpretation of Fletcher Christian. Whatever one

    thinks of Brando's choices in tackling a role, he was never dull,

    and watching him experiment is a viewer's treat. And Miyoshi

    Umeki: what a discovery! The portrayal of those in Japan who are

    just living their lives is done with sensitivity and humanity.

    Just as important as the stars' performance and the story itself, is

    Franz Waxman's music. It cannot be praised too highly, and is a

    perfect example of a meticulously crafted score: mature, totally

    sincere, and without one trace of cynicism or misdirection. Film

    music like this is safe from being taken for granted. Waxman's

    theme for the Red Buttons/Miyoshi Umeki relationship is among

    the most poignant and haunting even written for the screen. Its

    variations range from wistful to heartbreaking.

    None other than Irving Berlin supplied the title song (he gets as

    much screen credit as Waxman!). No pop hit, it nevertheless

    integrates well with Waxman's score.

    Ellsworth Fredericks' masterful Technirama lensing makes this

    picture one of the best of the 50s. Seeing it in widescreen is a

    thrilling event. The title sequence, in red lettering, is a fine example

    of how every department, even one which deals with the 'job' of

    giving credit, made sure that each element of a film like this

    worked in concert with each other, to create a cohesive whole.

    What a pleasure it is to have a proper introduction to a film, with

    visuals and overture tailored to the drama to come. Such was the

    style then. Bill Goetz produced. Thanks, Bill!

    Josh Logan as a director is often reviled, but why is it then, that his

    pictures are especially enjoyable, particularly with repeat

    viewings? His huge closeups are terrific! He really went for the

    gusto in splashing his stories on the screen, and made the most

    of the 'big Hollywood production' thing.

    Jack L. Warner's mid to late 50s productions rivaled 20th-Fox's in

    lavishness and quality. Fortunately for us, the fans of pictures like

    'Sayonara', he and Zanuck always tried to outdo each other.

    Tonight, to honor the memory of Marlon Brando, I'm rolling

    'Sayonara'.
    helpful•23
    8
    • Gooper
    • Jul 3, 2004

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    FAQ4

    • What is 'Sayonara' about?
    • Is 'Sayonara' based on a book?
    • How does "sayonara" translate from Japanese into English?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 20, 1957 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Sayonara - Elveda
    • Filming locations
      • Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Pennebaker Productions
      • William Goetz Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,300,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 27 minutes

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