Sayonara
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| Sayonara | |
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 original movie poster |
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| Directed by | Joshua Logan |
| Produced by | William Goetz |
| Written by | James Michener (novel) Paul Osborn |
| Starring | Marlon Brando Patricia Owens James Garner Martha Scott Miiko Taka Miyoshi Umeki Red Buttons Ricardo Montalban |
| Editing by | Arthur P. Schmidt |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | December 5, 1957 (USA) |
| Running time | 147 min. |
| Language | English Japanese |
| IMDb profile | |
Sayonara (1957) is a film which tells the story of an American Air Force flier who was a fighter "Ace" during the Korean War. The film's screenplay was adapted by Paul Osborn from the novel by James Michener, and the film was produced by William Goetz and directed by Joshua Logan. Unlike most 1950's romantic dramas, Sayonara deals squarely with racism and prejudice. [1]
Lloyd "Ace" Gruver, stationed at Itami Air Force Base (now Osaka International Airport) near Kobe, Japan, falls in love with a Japanese entertainer who is a performer for a Takarazuka-like theater company, whom he meets through his enlisted crew chief, Airman Kelly. Kelly has married a Japanese woman, Katsumi, in spite of the disapproval of the United States military, which will not recognize the marriage.
When Kelly is ordered back to the United States without being allowed to take his pregnant Japanese wife, Kelly and Katsumi commit suicide, which strengthens Major Gruver's resolve to marry his Japanese lover. When asked by a Stars and Stripes reporter what will he say to both the "big brass" as well as the Japanese, neither of which will be particularly happy, Major Gruver says "Tell them I said 'Sayonara.'" This ending differs from that of the book, in which Gruver says "sayonara" to his Japanese girlfriend and returns to the States.
[edit] Cast
- Marlon Brando - Maj. Lloyd 'Ace' Gruver, USAF
- Patricia Owens - Eileen Webster
- James Garner - Capt. Mike Bailey, USMC
- Martha Scott - Mrs. Webster
- Miiko Taka - Hana-ogi
- Miyoshi Umeki - Katsumi Kelly
- Red Buttons - Airman Joe Kelly
- Kent Smith - Lt. Gen. Mark Webster
- Reiko Kuba - Fumiko
- Soo Yong - Teruko
- Ricardo Montalban - Nakamura
[edit] Awards
Sayonara won an Academy Award for
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Red Buttons)
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Miyoshi Umeki)
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Ted Haworth & Robert Priestley)
- Best Sound (George Groves)
It was also nominated for
- Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando)
- Best Cinematography (Ellsworth Fredericks)
- Best Director (Joshua Logan)
- Best Film Editing (Arthur P. Schmidt & Philip W. Anderson)
- Best Picture (William Goetz)
- Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Paul Osborn)
[edit] External links
- Trailer of Sayonara introduced by Miika Taka
- The Duke and His Domain by Truman Capote
- James Garner Interview on the Charlie Rose Show
- James Garner interview at Archive of American Television - (c/o Google Video) - March 17, 1999
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