Teahouse of the August Moon
by Daniel Mann
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Product details
Actor: Eddie Albert, Glenn Ford, Machiko Ky?, Marlon Brando, Paul FordDirector: Daniel Mann
Cinematographer: John Alton
Editor: Harold F. Kress
Producer: Jack Cummings
Writer: John Patrick
Writer: Vern J. Sneider
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Running Time: 123 minutes
Release Date: 1998-09-01
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: MGM (Warner)
Studio: MGM (Warner)
VHS Movie Reviews of Teahouse of the August Moon
Movie Review: Great Old Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember waatching it with my mom. She loves it, so I surprised her one year a movie basket filled with all of her favorite oldies. This was one. They don't make them like this anymore!Movie Review: Teahouse
Summary: 5 Stars
This is really funny. This is an old movie, but you get to see Marlon Brando play a young Japanese interpreter with an accent that you sometimes struggle to understand. You will really enjoy this. Movie Review: White Beach, Okinawa
Summary: 5 Stars
I lived on Okinawa 3 yrs. Last 2 in the US Navy and 3rd as a civilian. I feel like i've known every Okinawan characher portraid in the movie. I've located every town or village mentioned in the movie, except Tobiki.
The US Navy was first put in charge of reconstruction of the Civilian Society after the war. Until Gen. McArthor took his place in Tokyo, then he changed that to the US Army. After the Army took over, the Okinawans refer to those years as the hell years of Okinawa. Upon repration with Japan, they wanted the US Army out. Now,the US Army has the smallest no. of people on Okinawa.
Movie Review: Cute and Subversive
Summary: 4 Stars
I've known that there was a film with the title "The Teahouse of the August Moon" for years but never had any interest in viewing it. I probably had it confused with "Sayonara", Marlon Brando's other post WWII Japan film. And there was never any reason to suspect that it was anything but a light comedy, as it was based on a stage play.
But it turns out that rather than just a comedy, it is more like a subtly subversive satire on America's staggering conceit as a righteous force of change in the world. How they managed to convince the studio and the public that it was just a harmless little comedy would make a great story itself, considering that it was made during the blacklist days of red-baiting and mega paranoia. My guess is that its patronizing portrayal of Japanese culture, and its characterization of the Okinawans as simple childlike islanders provided sufficient misdirection to throw our guardians off the scent. Hollywood was pretty good at slipping stuff like this into the mainstream, where the actual nature of the satire was only apparent to the most discerning viewers.
As others have noted, the film's message is actually more relevant today than at the time of its release; what with America's botched meddling in Viet Nam, Lebanon, Somalia, and Iraq. As "The Teahouse of the August Moon" illustrates, there seems to be a national compulsion to change the world and a chronic failure to realistically evaluate the complexities of these little adventures.
On the flip side, many of those who attack the film as racist are also critical of "Eurotrip" for its stereotyped portrayal of Europe; failing to recognize that the target of both films is America and its simplistic view of the rest of the world.
Anyway, "Teahouse" takes place shortly after the end of WWII as Captain Fisby, a Army Civil Affairs officer (Glenn Ford), is detailed to an Okinawan village to teach the natives about "democracy". His most important task is to construct a "pentagon" shaped school for the children. But with the arrival of a Geisha named Lotus Blossom (Machiko Kyo) the villagers decide that a teahouse (basically a copy of the Geisha houses they have heard about in the cities) should be built instead. When it appears that Fisby has become too acclimated to the native culture, his commanding officer sends a psychiatrist (Eddie Albert) to the village to evaluate his fitness for duty. Albert is soon co-opted and stays on in the village indulging his fantasy of running a farm.
Marlon Brando plays a native interpreter and carries it off quite nicely, in fact the whole cast is solid with Kyo unexpectedly effective and very charming. Speaking only Japanese (and without subtitles), her performance is similar to some of the best silent film stuff. Although Brando translates her more important lines for Fisby (and for the audience) her nonverbal performance communicates so much that you are rarely even aware of the language gap. Brando does a nice commentary to begin and end the film.
While "Teahouse" is hardly Oscar material it is entertaining and of considerable historical/ cultural interest.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Movie Review: Timeless, Wonderful Comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think anyone who hasn't lived in Japan or Okinawa can truly 'get' this film. Having lived there for 3 1/2 years in the mid-80's, courtesy of the U.S. Navy, this is one of my all-time favorite fims, ever. It truly captures the warmth and intelligence of the Japanese & Okinawan cultures. Marlon Brando is wonderful - and very believeable - as Sakini. We laugh just as hard every time we see this film. I can't wait for a widescreen DVD!
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