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Sayonara [1957]
![Sayonara [1957]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MZDEAK1BL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £12.99
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A soap with substance
Review date: 2006-12-12 Rating: 8 out of 10
Sayonara has all the problems of 50s Scope blockbuster doorstop novel adaptations and Joshua Logan films both - slow pacing not the least of them - but still works despite it taking nearly an hour for the lovers to meet. But for once the soap operatics seem to be there to support the film's surprisingly daring criticism of the US Army's racist policies rather than its sole raison d'etre, and it's hard to imagine a major studio today making a mainstream big-budget picture with A-list stars about, say, American troops falling for nice Islamic girls. Brando is at his worst here, clearly bored with the part he plays up the Southern stereotype to such a simple downhome cliché that he comes across more like Steve Martin as the Jerk doing Elvis rather than a successful West Point career officer, but a strong supporting cast - an understated Red Buttons (unjustly slated by Pauline Kael for some reason), James Garner and Kent Smith - take up the slack, and MGM/UA's R2 DVD is such a stunningly beautiful transfer that it's easy to get sucked into it. Shame about the impromptu press conference ending and Ricardo Montalban's ah-so turn as the world's tallest Kabuki actor.
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Reviews
Excellent movie on many levels
Review date: 2004-06-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
The story is tight and well written. There are no lose ends; yet there is flexibility to speculate what each decision means to the people evolved. For some it is a straightforward love story, for others conflict. Yet it is the conflict that leads to growth and understanding.
The actors match the characters perfectly and even though they are major actors they do not overwhelm the characters that they play. For some reason I forget that James Garner is in this movie yet he is the pivot point and catalyst for many scenes as Captain Mike Bailey.
The scenery was intriguing. First there was the countryside that appeared timeless yet the theaters were both ancient and modern (for the time period of the movie). I spent an R. &R. in Japan in 1968 (more time in the country then at the Ginza) and had a hard time leaving my self.
There is always a residual of the attitudes that were taking place during the Korean War period. And there are many more prejudices to fill the gap today. It is unfortunate that these people do not recognize themselves in the movie (if they did the movie may never have been made), and this alone is what makes the movie worth watching.
If you watch it once you will watch it again.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Red Buttons
Ricardo Montalban
Marlon Brando
Patricia Owens
Miiko Taka
Creators:
Marlon Brando (Primary Contributor)
Ricardo Montalban (Primary Contributor)
Ellsworth Fredericks (Cinematographer)
Arthur P. Schmidt (Editor)
Philip W. Anderson (Editor)
William Goetz (Producer)
James Michener (Writer)
Paul Osborn (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070020632
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, PAL,
Release date: 2004-05-03
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 142 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1957
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Japanese (Original Language)