The Teahouse of the August Moon

Somehow, less racist than it should be. Still, Brando really should have known better...

This certainly hasn't aged well, but looking at it from a post-war audience's point of view, it seems pretty equally offensive towards everyone, Okinawans and Americans alike, and especially towards the great American military bureaucracy. Brando wasn't afraid of trying out different roles; his comic timing isn't bad -- the same can be said about the usually staid Glenn Ford.

"Teahouse of the August Moon" is a movie meant to poke fun at America's feeling of superiority. Yet the film is filled with ethnic stereotypes that make it hard to watch.

I had steeled myself for something terrible. I love this play (despite, and because of, it's old-fashioned feel) and was worried about Marlon Brando playing a villager from Okinawa. No worries - apparently the man could play anything. Racial stereotypes aside, the film presents an hilarious satire of the American attitude of superiority. "Democracy" carried out to its logical conclusion. Some wonderfully comic turns from Paul Ford and Harry Morgan.

70.750

Funny how the democracy subplot is still timely today. Hmmm.

A little slapstick, but it holds a special place in my heart as I've lived a large part of my life in Okinawa

Ridiculous.