Sayonara

[Roger]

Starring Marlon Brando, James Garner, Ricardo Montalban (as a Japanese Kabuki dancer ) and Red Buttons. Based on the James Michener novel. It deals with inter-racial love (American GI's and Japanese women) in post Occupied Japan. I recently saw and and it was a good film. A little drawn out (but then again what Michener film isn't [huh] ) in some scenes but overall a good film.

 

[Sefton]

Red Buttons is very good in this film. All of the performances are good-even the Mexican-American Montalban as a Japanese is good although it would have strengthened the anti-racist message if they had cast an Asian actor. At least they didn't go the "Breakfast at Tiffanys" route. Talk about All in all not a bad attempt for the 1950's.

 

[Twitch]

And nothing is more logical than the last line in the movie either," tell 'em we said sayanora."

 

[Flitcraft]

Liked the story line, liked Buttons and Montalban, but found Brando a wee bit fey as a Korean War era fighter pilot. Michener's novel does raise some interesting points, but the film is a little timid.

By the way, Montalban often cited this as his most difficult role because of the strict requirements of the Kabuki stage. Interesting...