The barbarian and the geisha
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The barbarian and the geisha |
| Original title | The Barbarian and the Geisha |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English , Japanese |
| Publishing year | 1958 |
| length | 106 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 6 |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Huston |
| script | Charles Grayson based on a story by Ellis St. Joseph |
| production | Eugene Frenke |
| music | Hugo Friedhofer |
| camera | Charles G. Clarke |
| cut | Stuart Gilmore |
| occupation | |
| |
The Barbarian and the Geisha is a 19th century Japan set, American fictional film from 1958 directed by John Huston with John Wayne in the lead role. For both industry stars, who, although Huston had initially praised Wayne as his ideal cast, never developed a chemistry for each other and increasingly clashed in the course of filming, this film should prove to be a career disaster. Wayne himself struggled with the script, which was still unfinished at the start of shooting, and the role of a cautious diplomat, which contradicted his habitus as a solid warrior, and ultimately saw himself as completely miscast, which most of the critics at the premiere (see below) should agree with.
action
In 1856, the US President Franklin Pierce sent the 52-year-old New York merchant Townsend Harris on a delicate mission. He is supposed to travel to Japan, which has been largely isolated from the western world, in order to be the first US consul to establish diplomatic relations with Japan and to stimulate trade between the two countries. Harris' mission after the recognition of the treaty by the all-powerful Shogun (military ruler of the country) turned out to be very difficult from the beginning, as the two nations were too different in their nature, their traditions and, above all, in their mentalities. The Japanese population turns out to be initially hostile to the Gaijin ("long noses"), the foreigners from the West.
Harris is accompanied by Hendrick Heusken , who should help him as a translator and right-hand man in all matters. The consulate is to be set up in Shimoda prefecture, as stipulated in the Japanese-American agreement. But already at the time of the accreditation it becomes clear to the Americans that they have to reckon with a lot of headwinds from the local Japanese, the governor Baron Tamura denies the Gaijin from the west any official status and, in view of different interpretations of the contractual agreements, also questions their legitimacy. Harris wants an offensive diplomatic presence while the Japanese primarily expect him to remain largely "invisible". Accordingly, Governor Tamura tries to impose all sorts of restrictions on Harris. He is not even allowed to hoist the US flag on the consulate property. The Yankees are met with suspicion and fear, and sometimes Americans are even refused to buy essential groceries. Soon the superstition and the rampant xenophobia on site lead to the fact that even natural disasters are viewed as divine punishment and a warning against the “harmful” influence of strangers, the “barbarians”.
Day after day, Harris experiences this conflict between tradition and modernity in this remote and hermetically sealed country from outside influences. The traditionalists under the leadership of the Governor of Shimoda have their strongest opponents in those Japanese who want to open their country to foreign influences. Townsend Harris tries hard to build trust. After a meal with Baron Tamura, the latter sends him a geisha named Okichi as a measure of confidence or favor , who is supposed to take care of all matters that ensure the well-being of the stranger. A relationship of trust gradually developed between the “barbarian” and his geisha, despite all the initial strangers, and Okichi was able to introduce Harris to the peculiarities of the Japanese way of life. One day when cholera breaks out in the city , it is the American who tries to help and thus takes a decisive step towards improving Japanese-American relations. But the reluctant forces on site are so strong that Tamura, at the urging of his clan, feels compelled to commission the murder of Harris. But the geisha warns the American, who thereby escapes the mortal danger. Then the governor commits hara-kiri to escape dishonor.
Production notes
Barbara and the Geisha was created on site in Japan and was premiered in the USA on September 30, 1958. The German premiere took place on October 31, 1958, in Austria the film was shown on May 29, 1959.
Production costs were around $ 3.5 million and $ 4 million, depending on the source. The grossing results were about $ 2.5 million. That made the film a big box office flop.
Darryl F. Zanuck took over the production management. Lyle Wheeler and Jack Martin Smith were responsible for the film construction, Walter M. Scott provided the equipment. Charles Le Maire designed the costumes. Lionel Newman took over the musical direction unnamed.
Reviews
The film, carried in the course of the plot and, for Wayne's and Huston'sche conditions, extremely sedateful film found no favor with the critics worldwide, even Huston was “dismayed” when he saw the end product, which had been massively re-edited after Wayne's objections. Here are some assessments:
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times responded in the October 3, 1958 issue: "John Wayne in the role of Harris seems a bit confused and uptight, especially since he is used to more action." On the other hand, the critic admired the “Patience and the pomp” that this film would exude.
Paimann's film lists summed up: "Not only is the folklore conveyed in the foreground, in at least real-looking, worth seeing shots, but also the tempo has been delayed, especially through copious Japanese dialogues with subsequent ... translation."
Kay Weniger's The Film's Great Encyclopedia of Persons Wayne found "totally out of place" in Huston's film.
"Operetta-like picture book drama with exotic décor, inadequate dramaturgy and John Wayne in a failed role."
The Movie & Video Guide said that "Wayne's miscast was hair-raising".
Halliwell's Film Guide found that the film "barely does justice to the talents involved".
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c d Barbarian and the Geisha: John Wayne on John Huston
- ↑ In James S. Olson's and Randy Roberts' Wayne biography "John Wayne American" (1995) on pages 436 f. reported that Wayne hit and choked Huston
- ↑ The barbarian and the geisha in Paimann's film lists ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ The large personal dictionary of films, Volume 8, p. 281. Berlin 2001
- ↑ The barbarian and the geisha. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed November 14, 2018 .
- ^ Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 80
- ^ Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 74
