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IMDbPro

The Ugly American

  • 19631963
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
Trailer for this action film starring Marlon Brando
Play trailer3:01
1 Video
58 Photos
AdventureDramaThriller
An ambitious scholar becomes the ambassador of Sarkan, a southeast Asian country where civil war is brewing.An ambitious scholar becomes the ambassador of Sarkan, a southeast Asian country where civil war is brewing.An ambitious scholar becomes the ambassador of Sarkan, a southeast Asian country where civil war is brewing.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • George Englund
  • Writers
    • William J. Lederer(novel)
    • Eugene Burdick(novel)
    • Stewart Stern(screen story)
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Eiji Okada
    • Sandra Church
  • Director
    • George Englund
  • Writers
    • William J. Lederer(novel)
    • Eugene Burdick(novel)
    • Stewart Stern(screen story)
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Eiji Okada
    • Sandra Church
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    The Ugly American
    Trailer 3:01
    Watch The Ugly American

    Photos58

    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    "The Ugly American" Marlon Brando 1963 Universal Pictures
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    "The Ugly American" Marlon Brando 1963 Universal Pictures
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    Marlon Brando in The Ugly American (1963)
    "The Ugly American" Marlon Brando 1963 Universal Pictures
    Marlon Brando at the "Ugly American" premiere

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite
    Eiji Okada
    Eiji Okada
    • Deong
    Sandra Church
    Sandra Church
    • Marion MacWhite
    Pat Hingle
    Pat Hingle
    • Homer Atkins
    Arthur Hill
    Arthur Hill
    • Grainger
    Jocelyn Brando
    Jocelyn Brando
    • Emma Atkins
    Kukrit Pramoj
    • Prime Minister Kwen Sai
    Judson Pratt
    Judson Pratt
    • Joe Bing
    Reiko Sato
    Reiko Sato
    • Rachani, Deong's Wife
    George Shibata
    • Munsang
    Judson Laire
    Judson Laire
    • Senator Brenner
    Philip Ober
    Philip Ober
    • Ambassador Sears
    Yee Tak Yip
    • Sawad, Deong's Assistant
    Carl Benton Reid
    Carl Benton Reid
    • Senator at Confirmation Hearing
    Simon Scott
    Simon Scott
    • Johnson
    Frances Helm
    James Yagi
    James Yagi
    John Daheim
    John Daheim
      • Director
        • George Englund
      • Writers
        • William J. Lederer(novel)
        • Eugene Burdick(novel)
        • Stewart Stern(screen story)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        One key role, that of the Sarkhanese Prime Minister, was filled quite capably by a non-professional, Kukrit Pramoj, a prominent Thai newspaper publisher, former Thai Finance Minister, and, as fate would have it, future Prime Minister (1975-76). Speaking in Bangkok the day after its world premiere, the film's star, Marlon Brando, brought forth gasps by labeling his precocious co-star a "dissembler, liar and thief." Before shock could turn to indignation, Brando, straight face intact, quickly broke the stunned silence. "Mr. Kukrit told me he couldn't act, and then proceeded to prove he could act and, in fact, acted me off the screen. He stole the whole show."
      • Goofs
        As it is landing, the TWA plane is a Convair 880. When it arrives at the gate for deplaning, it has turned into a Boeing 707.
      • Quotes

        Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite: I'd like to interrupt, eh, gentlemen, to point out that the only thing that is clear so far is that there's no clarity at all. So if you don't mind, we'll stop this squabbling and I'll present you with some facts. About three hours ago, there were several people trampled to death, a policeman was pistol-whipped until his face looked like raspberry jam, and the man who represents the person of the president of United States was almost killed, along with his wife, and other members of his party. Now I- I don't mind telling you that I was afraid out there this afternoon, but I didn't know what fear was until this meeting got started. You gentlemen have given me something to think about. Now, here's something for you. Confusion, ignorance, and indifference will cease as of this moment. Information about everything that happens in Sarkhan will kept up to date and that's seven days a week. That's seven days a week gentleman! And Sundays included, and I don't give a damn where you live! And the next time that there are six thousand people that begin a riot, or six people, without this embassy being aware of it, those responsible will be on the first plane out of here with my personal recommendation that they be dropped from the foreign service!

      • Connections
        Featured in Brando (2007)
      • Soundtracks
        America the Beautiful
        (uncredited)

        Music by Samuel A. Ward and lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates

        Heard when the Ambassador arrives and over the closing credits

      User reviews27

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      8/10
      now that the Vietnam War has happened...
      "The Ugly American" was released right before the Vietnam War started (depending on which stage of it), and now it seems more relevant than ever. Harrison MacWhite (Marlon Brando) becomes ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation of Sarkhan, which is on the verge of civil war between the Communists and the pro-US government. In Sarkhan, MacWhite begins to suspect that US intervention in this country might be prompting people to rebel. While he refuses to accept it, the situation becomes more and more tense, and MacWhite's officially neutral position becomes less and less sustainable.

      You can't say for certain what the movie's political message is, but we might take MacWhite's speech at the end as a good reminder. Either way, this is one of the many movies that showed how great an actor Marlon Brando was.
      helpful•23
      3
      • lee_eisenberg
      • Aug 3, 2005

      FAQ1

      • Marlon Brando---Did He Have a Female Stand-in?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • August 1, 1963 (Mexico)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Der häßliche Amerikaner
      • Filming locations
        • Bangkok, Thailand(Chulalongkorn University)
      • Production company
        • Universal International Pictures (UI)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        2 hours
      • Color
        • Color
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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