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IMDbPro

Sayonara

  • 19571957
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.9K
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
  • Drama
  • Romance
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.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joshua Logan
  • Writers
    • Paul Osborn(screen play)
    • James A. Michener(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Ricardo Montalban
    • Patricia Owens
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joshua Logan
  • Writers
    • Paul Osborn(screen play)
    • James A. Michener(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Ricardo Montalban
    • Patricia Owens
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 4:00
    Trailer

    Photos107

    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)
    Sayonara (1957)
    Marlon Brando 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(screen play)
      • James A. Michener(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details 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 reviews53

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Good filming of famous Michener novel
    James Michener, himself a U.S. veteran of the Pacific war and married to a Japanese, wrote one of his earliest novels on the then controversial subject of romance among the former enemies. The novel follows two Americans who romance Japanese women, one with tragic results. The film gives a nice colorful richness to life in Kabuki theatre, post-war Japan and the USAF. Production design and costuming are first rate and lend the appropriate note of exoticness to the culture clash plot line. It is interesting that the script balances American bigotry toward the Japanese off against Japanese attitudes toward Americans. Miiko Taka lacks some credibility in the role of a famous entertainer - she neither dances nor sings particularly well - who in the book is almost a national treasure, leading to a scandal when she gets involved with an Air Force officer, Brando, who is very good here in a rare straight romantic role.
    helpful•8
    3
    • dave13-1
    • May 1, 2012

    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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