Sayonara

Sayōnara is Japanese for 'goodbye'.

Sayonara is a 1957 film which tells the story of an American Air Force Flier who was a fighter "Ace" during the Korean War. It was adapted by Paul Osborn from the novel by James Michener. Produced by William Goetz, it was directed by Joshua Logan. Unlike most '50s romantic dramas, Sayonara deals squarely with racism and prejudice. [link]

"Ace" Gruver, who went to Kobe, Japan through Itami Air Force Base (now Osaka International Airport), falls in love with a Japanese entertainer whom he meets through his enlisted crew chief, Airman Kelly. Kelly married a Japanese girl in spite of the disapproval of the United States Military Government. When Airman Kelly is ordered back to the United States without being allowed to take his Japanese wife, Kelly and Katsumi commit suicide, which strengthens Major Gruver's resolve to marry his Japanese lover. When asked by a Stars and Stripes reporter, what will he say to both the "big brass" as well as the Japanese, neither of which will be particularly happy, Major Gruver says "Tell them I said Sayonara".

Spoilers end here.

Cast

Marlon Brando - Maj. Lloyd 'Ace' Gruver, USAF
Patricia Owens - Eileen Webster
James Garner - Capt. Mike Bailey, USMC
Martha Scott - Mrs. Webster
Miiko Taka - Hana-ogi
Miyoshi Umeki - Katsumi Kelly
Red Buttons - Airman Joe Kelly
Kent Smith - Lt. Gen. Mark Webster
Reiko Kuba - Fumiko-san
Soo Yong - Teruko-san
Ricardo Montalban - Nakamura

Awards

Sayonara won an Academy Award for

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Red Buttons)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Miyoshi Umeki)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Best Sound

It was also nominated for

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.