Sayonara

Wuchak

2021-11-10

⭐ 7

_**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 …

CinemaSerf

2025-02-13

⭐ 6

Though it does try to deal with some quite poignant issues, I’m afraid it struggles to engage as it plods along a bit too sedately for 2½ hours. It’s set in an immediately post-war Korea and sees “Joe” (Red Buttons) fall in love with a Japanese gal. Now that’s strictly against the rules of fraternisation and he risks an immediate court martial. It’s only going to get more precarious when he decides to marry “Katsumi” (Miyoshi Umeki) and he asks his all-American boss “Maj. Gruver” (Marlon Brando) if he’ll be the best man. Things are further complicated because not only is “Gruver” the son of a …