DramaRomance

Sayonara

- "I am not allowed to love. But I will love you if that is your desire..."

Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver (Marlon Brando) is reassigned to a Japanese air base, and is confronted with US racial prejudice against the Japanese people. The issue is compounded because a number of the soldiers become romantically involved with Japanese women, in defiance of US military policy. Ordinarily an officer who is by-the-book, Gruver must take a position when a buddy of his, an enlisted man Joe Kelly (Red Buttons) falls in love with a Japanese woman Katsumi (Miyoshi Umeki) and marries her. Gruver risks his position by serving as best man at the wedding ceremony.

Release Date : 1957-12-25

Language :EnglishJapanese

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Pennebaker ProductionsWilliam Goetz ProductionsWarner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Major Lloyd Gruver

Original Name : Marlon Brando

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eileen Webster

Original Name : Patricia Owens

Gender : Female

Character Name : Capt. Mike Bailey

Original Name : James Garner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Webster

Original Name : Martha Scott

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hana-ogi

Original Name : Miiko Taka

Gender : Female

Character Name : Katsumi

Original Name : Miyoshi Umeki

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joe Kelly

Original Name : Red Buttons

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gen. Webster

Original Name : Kent Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Col. Craford

Original Name : Douglass Watson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fumiko-san

Original Name : Reiko Kuba

Gender : Female

Character Name : Terukosan

Original Name : Soo Yong

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nakamura

Original Name : Ricardo Montalban

Gender : Male

Character Name : MP in Kelly's House / MP at Tokyo Airport (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis Hopper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Second Military Police (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : General at Tokyo Airport (uncredited)

Original Name : Kenner G. Kemp

Gender : Male

Character Name : General at Tokyo Airport (uncredited)

Original Name : William Meader

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soldier in Washroom (uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Moratz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Rollin Moriyama

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lady Vice-Consul (uncredited)

Original Name : Yvonne Peattie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Phil Rhodes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Saito

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : James Stacy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Original Name : Audrey Swanson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Consul (uncredited)

Original Name : Harlan Warde

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stars and Stripes Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : William Wellman Jr.

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-11-10

_**Brando’s romantic culture clash in Japan after WW2**_ In 1951, an American Air Force pilot serving in Korea (Marlon Brando) is reassigned to Kobe, Japan, where he deals with his American fiancé (Patricia Owens) and a Japanese performer who attracts his attention (Miiko Taka). The problem is there’s a military order against fraternizing with indigenous women. James Garner and Red Buttons have peripheral roles while Ricardo Montalban is on hand as a famous Kabuki entertainer. “Sayonara” (1957) is a romantic drama highlighted by Brando’s performance as a genial Southern officer, the Japanese culture & locations, plus the quaint conventions of the time period, not to mention Garner in one of his earliest roles. It’s similar to “The Ugly American” (1963), but arguably better. “Désirée” (1954) is another apt comparison, despite taking placing during the Napoleonic era. The film is a little long at 2 hours, 27 minutes, but I didn’t mind. It was shot in Japan with some stuff done in Burbank & Hollywood. GRADE: B