Sayonara

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title Sayonara
Original title Sayonara
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1957
length 147 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Joshua Logan
script Paul Osborn
production William Goetz
music Franz Waxman
camera Ellsworth Fredericks
cut Philip W. Anderson ,
Arthur P. Schmidt
occupation

Sayonara (Japanese 'さ よ な ら' for 'goodbye') is an American drama film directed by Joshua Logan in 1957. The script is based on the novel of the same name by James A. Michener . In Germany the film had its cinema premiere on February 27, 1958.

action

During the Korean War , US Air Force pilot Major Lloyd Gruver flies to Kobe in Japan . The father of his fiancée Eileen Webster arranged the trip and also his new job in an office. On the flight to Kobe Gruver is accompanied by his orderly officer Joe Kelly. Kelly is in a relationship with the Japanese Katsumi. Gruver is now trying to talk him out of his marriage plans. Gruver, a southerner who graduated from West Point Military Academy, also believes that marriages are only good between people with similar backgrounds. Kelly, who comes from a poor background, is happy with Katsumi; for him it is the first time that he feels happy. He also received special permission from his congressman for the wedding, even though there is an armed forces order prohibiting the entry of foreign wives of American soldiers. Kelly wants to go through with the wedding. He shocks Gruver by saying that he even wants to give up his citizenship for this. Gruver, who cannot convince Kelly to decline, agrees to act as best man.

Once in Kobe, Gruver is picked up by Eileen and her parents. You go to an officers club. Captain Bailey is there too. He's been on leave because he's dating the Japanese dancer Fumiko. Eileen's mother is disgusted with the relationship. Her father and Gruver are also skeptical, only Eileen herself is open. She takes Gruver to a kabuki theater. This is where Nakamura appears, with whom Eileen meets again and again. After the performance, Gruver and Eileen meet Nakamura. Gruver is polite, but can't do anything with Japanese culture. At a late supper, Eileen tells him that she is afraid he will become like her father: a narrow-minded, intolerant general who neglects his wife. When Gruver tells her that he always wanted to marry a woman like her, Eileen is afraid that he would only marry her because of her cultural status and not out of love.

At Kelly and Katsumi's wedding at the consulate, Gruver is the only guest. Gruver is later criticized by Eileen's parents for attending the ceremony. He goes to the officers' club and meets Bailey again. He tells Gruver that his parents had planned his life path in advance. Bailey shows Gruver a bridge with the Matsubayashi Girl Revue at the other end. There is also the place where the performers of the ensemble, which consists only of women, live. When the actresses go to the theater before the show, they are greeted loudly by the Americans present. Fumiko is also in the group. Bailey tells Gruver that women are forbidden to have a relationship while working for the theater. Gruver notices the main dancer Hana-Ogi and is impressed by her. After the show, the actresses return. Gruver meets Kelly and Katsumi. With the help of Katsumi, Gruver tries to meet Hana-Ogi, but she doesn't want to talk to him because she hates Americans who killed her father and brother. Fumiko crosses the bridge; Bailey secretly signals to her when and where he will meet her.

Fumiko meets Bailey and Gruver in a restaurant. Gruver asks her about Hana-Ogi. Fumiko informs him that the main dancer is very careful and would never meet with him. For the next few days, Gruver will be standing by the bridge every time the dancers come by. He doesn't give any signals, he just wants Hana-Ogi to see him. One day he hides and sees Hana-Ogi looking for him. Shortly afterwards, he visits Kelly and Katsumi at their house. Gruver notices how Kelly has adapted to Katsumi's way of life. The only disruptive factor for Kelly is Colonel Crawford, who detests marriages between American and Japanese women. To Gruver's surprise, Hana-Ogi appears. Hana-Ogi explains to him that her hatred of Americans was wrong and asks his forgiveness. As the ninth child of a farmer, she is a dancer and lives for the theater, the rules of which determine her life. Since the military also determined Gruver's life, any relationship between them would only mean danger.

In the meantime, Eileen invites Nakamura to a party, which irritates her mother. Colonel Crawford finds out Gruver's interest in Hana-Ogi. With the permission of General Webster, he issues a directive prohibiting all human relations between Americans and Japanese women. Gruver ignores the instruction and continues to meet with Hana-Ogi, who introduces him to Japanese culture. They often meet at Kelly's, with whose neighbors Gruver befriends. Eileen warns him about Gruver, and Bailey is also increasingly concerned. Eileen consults with Nakamura, who tells her that both of them have to break out of their surroundings. Meanwhile, Kelly gets the order to embark for the USA, with which he would have to leave Katsumi. The order comes from Colonel Crawford. Gruver tries to get Crawford to take the command back because Katsumi is pregnant. The Colonel refuses, Gruver turns to General Webster. The general does not want to withdraw the order either, although his daughter Eileen also warns of the absurdity of the regulation. Gruver is outraged and informs the Websters of his intention to marry a Japanese woman.

Gruver is disappointed when Hana-Ogi, who does not want to leave the review, refuses a wedding with him. Gruver reproaches her for not loving him, whereupon she explains that she has never experienced love since her father sold her into prostitution. Gruver, Kelly, Katsumi and Hana-Ogi attend a puppet show, the action of which the women explain. The play is about a couple who want to commit suicide together. Hana-Ogi explains that it is the predetermined fate of a couple in love if they are not allowed to be together. On the way back, the four children in the neighborhood are warned that soldiers have surrounded Kelly's house. Gruver is brought to the quarters. Kelly learns that he is supposed to fly back to the US in two days. When Kelly does not appear at the time of departure, Gruver is asked by the military police to help find Kelly. He drives Bailey to Kelly's house. They break in and find Kelly and Katsumi dead. Both committed suicide.

Gruver goes to the bridge, but Hana-Ogi has left the review for Tokyo . Back at base, Gruver learns from General Webster that the soldiers will be allowed to take their Japanese wives with them to the States. Gruver is transferred to the USA by Webster. Before leaving, he flies to Tokyo to look for Hana-Ogi. He finds her as a dancer in a theater and asks her whether she loves him or not and whether she would go to the USA with him. Hana-Ogi confesses her love to him, but she wants to do what is expected of her here. Gruver is waiting for her in front of the theater. When Hana-Ogi comes out after the performance, she is received by reporters. She announces that she will marry Gruver and hopes that she will be understood. American reporters follow Gruver to the airfield. When asked if he wanted to say something to the military, he replied: "Sayonara".

Reviews

"Exotic love drama based on the novel of the same name by James A. Michener, which is not entirely convincing, but deserves attention due to the decorative charm of the ambience and the art of acting."

- Lexicon of international film

“Lengthy film about private relationships between Americans and Japanese. Valuable insights into the Japanese way of life should be emphasized. "

- Protestant film observer, review No. 174/1958

Awards

Academy Awards 1958

Golden Globe 1958

Directors Guild of America 1958

  • DGA Award nomination for Joshua Logan

Writers Guild of America 1958

  • Nomination for the WGA Award for the best drama (Paul Osborn)

Laurel Award 1958

  • 1st place for Red Buttons as Best Supporting Actor
  • 2nd place for the film as best drama and to Franz Waxman as best composer
  • 3rd place for Ricardo Montalban as Best Supporting Actor

British Film Academy Awards 1959

  • Nomination in the Best Young Actor category for Red Buttons

background

The film, which was shot in Japan, grossed approximately $ 26.3 million. The Matsubayashi Girls Revue appearing in the film was portrayed by the Shochiku Kagekidan Girls Revue. The director of the revue was Masaya Fujima. The US military's instruction, stated in the film, not to bring Japanese wives into the US, was ignored by more than 10,000 US soldiers in 1956.

Miyoshi Umeki won her Oscar with her American film debut. Miiko Taka also made her film debut. Red Buttons starred in a movie for the third time. The performer of Nakamura, Ricardo Montalban, is a native of Mexico. Dennis Hopper can be seen in a minor role as a military policeman . The military reporter is played by William Wellman Jr., son of the former director William A. Wellman .

The song Sayonara , sung by Miiko Taka, was composed by Irving Berlin .

Bibliography

  • James A. Michener: Sayonara - English edition - Fawcett, 1983 - ISBN 0-449-20414-6
  • James A. Michener: Sayonara - German edition - Bastei-Lübbe paperback No. 12804 - ISBN 3-404-12804-4

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sayonara. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed October 5, 2016 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050933/business