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Sayonara

Play trailer Poster for Sayonara 1957,  2h 27m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 82% 56 Reviews Tomatometer 79% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Stationed in Japan during the Korean War, U.S. Air Force Major Lloyd Ace Gruver falls for the beautiful Japanese actress Hana-ogi (Miiko Taka). However, he is hesitant to pursue the relationship due to the unfortunate example of his crew chief, Airman Joe Kelly (Red Buttons). Kelly, against official military advice and the prejudices of his commanding officers, married a Japanese woman, Katsumi (Miyoshi Umeki), and his military career has suffered ever since.
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Sayonara

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Sayonara

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Critics Consensus

As sumptuously staged as it is ponderously paced, Sayonara flutters by on the strength of its touching story and solidly assembled cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Kate Cameron New York Daily News Mar 3, 2023
4/4
A "must" for moviegoers. Go to Full Review
Marjory Adams Boston Globe Mar 3, 2023
This is a memorable presentation. Go to Full Review
Jean Yothers Orlando Sentinel Mar 2, 2023
There is much of beauty in the setting. And the story is touching and sympathy-inspiring. Go to Full Review
Buck Buchwach Honolulu Advertiser Mar 17, 2023
[Miyoshi Umeki] is the real star of Sayonara. If she doesn't get an Academy Award for her performance, the judges should be charged with grand larceny. Go to Full Review
Florence Epstein Modern Screen Mar 3, 2023
Sayonara means goodbye, but you won't be forgetting this movie for a long, long time. Go to Full Review
John Bustin Austin American-Statesman Mar 3, 2023
Seldom has this subject been presented with as delicate a touch or in as attractive a mounting as in "Sayonara." Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Feb 2, 2019 The best romance movie ever made! With the best movie score ever composed!
Sep 18, 2018 I adore everything about this story. Brando, what can I say, yum. Charming, conflicted and in the mist of an intrinsic evolution that leads him to making a stand for what is right, and honorable in the name of friendship and love. See more
George S Jun 19, 2018 A progressive romance tale for the ages. Director Joshua Logan crafts a thoughtful romance story in Japan that touches on many relevant issues such as racism, interracial marriage, military code, tradition, and real love. Sayonara may be from 1957, but It is a movie before its time as it goes out of its way to show you the humanity of all sides and genuine love across race and country lines. The screenplay from writer Paul Osborn is truly ahead of his time. I am stunned at how profound and progressive Sayonara remains to this day. Marlon Brando delivers a fascinating role as an ignorant country boy from Virginia that learns to appreciate, and indeed, love Japan's country, people, and culture. He is so far removed from the usual thoughtful intellectual Brando characters that Brando's performance is all the more impressive. He demonstrates the character's gradual shift in ideals. It's a wonderful role for Brando that marks his last great role in his untouchable 1950's era. Similarly, actress Miiko Taka stars as the leading lady Hana-ogi. Her English is perfect as she delivers the most endearing monologue of the movie to Brando during their first dinner together. Her singing is lovely and her dancing is mesmerizing. Taka gave us the performance of a lifetime in Sayonara. Additionally, Sayonara holds several incredible supporting performances. Namely, Patricia Owens, Miyoshi Umeki, Red Buttons, and Ricardo Montalbán. They each represent another side of the racial relationships occurring in 1950's Japan. They are so sincere and sympathetic in their own way. Musically, Franz Waxman composed the most lovely score for Sayonara. It is romantic and atmospheric. It only chimes in at the most sweet moments. I really enjoyed how pretty Sayonara's score sounds. In all, Sayonara is a must see romance film. It has proven to be timeless and continues to be relevant. All that's left to say is Sayonara! See more
Abraham S Nov 11, 2017 Probing forthrightly racism and prejudice against interracial marriages, this Oscar-winning sweeping military romance of a dashing Air Force hero and a striking Japanese traditional trouper is well-meaning but idealistically hopeful. See more
Theodore M Mar 5, 2017 In 1957, for mainstream audiences, this was considered progressive. Whike it is a sensitive intelligent story, beautifully shot, with good performances, it dates badly and is even embarrassing now. Great and mysogenist attention is brought to All-American white guys marrying submissive Japanese women. The greatest hypocrisy is that when faced with a possible relationship of a white woman with a Japanese man....it fails and insults. Ricardo Montalban, a Mexican actor is cast as a Japanese actor who becomes a confidante of Brando's fiance. Progress in 1957 meant white guys marrying Asian women, but no hint of white women with other races was tolerated. Miyoshi Umeki is lovely, in one of the most ridiculous Oscar winning performances. She has little to do but smile sweetly, bow, and be cute in a few scenes focused on other characters. She has one more effective scene where she reads two lines in a heartbreaking manner. Oscar????!!!! Brando is good but hammy (his worst quality on screen). Again, its well made, beautiful to look at, well intentioned, and a great chance for Red Buttons to show he has real talent. But its all so dated and unintentionally insulting it just does not deserve a great rating. See more
George S Jan 3, 2009 Not as good as it probably was.
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Sayonara

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Stationed in Japan during the Korean War, U.S. Air Force Major Lloyd Ace Gruver falls for the beautiful Japanese actress Hana-ogi (Miiko Taka). However, he is hesitant to pursue the relationship due to the unfortunate example of his crew chief, Airman Joe Kelly (Red Buttons). Kelly, against official military advice and the prejudices of his commanding officers, married a Japanese woman, Katsumi (Miyoshi Umeki), and his military career has suffered ever since.
Director
Joshua Logan
Producer
William Goetz
Screenwriter
Paul Osborn
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Pennebaker Productions, William Goetz Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 5, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2018
Runtime
2h 27m
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