Das kleine Teehaus

In watching "Teahouse of the August Moon," again recently, I can see how it made such a smash on Broadway. Besides its very funny plot and script, the setting seems ideal for a stage. Or, did they move the stage setting to Japan or elsewhere for the movie? I ask that because after three viewings over the years, the thought has stuck in my mind that it seemed like it was on stage. Perhaps the final scene when we see Sakini directing the locals to reassemble the teahouse drove that thought more than anything. I performed and worked in theater at the college level, and it struck me as a beautiful job of a change of sets and scenery.

The further we get away from the 20th century war years, the less humorous some of the spoofs of military management seem to be. I may have found this film much funnier years ago, but it seems to me now to be just OK or good. This is a comedy of situations, not witty dialog. And, its humor derives to a great extent from the variety of characters. But for one, I could have rated it a notch or two higher.

Glenn Ford just does not deliver the humor in his role as Capt. Fisby. He moves between a hapless, seemingly lazy guy who has lots of bad luck, to a frenetic, nervous character who's worried about doing things right. Then, he becomes a very laid back, un-excitable character who doesn't seem like anything will ruffle him. It just doesn't seem to work. The right actor might be able to deliver that, but it doesn't work for Ford. And, that's too bad, because as one of the two main leads, his character is a great part of the film. I know Ford was capable of great acting, but his interpretation for this role misses the mark.

Now, what earns the film seven stars from me are three performances and the local extras. Marlon Brando is excellent as Sakini, Eddie Albert is fantastic as Capt. McLean, and Paul Ford is superb as Col. Purdy. Purdy and McLean are the sources of most of the funny streaks of this film. We see a good contrast in how Albert transforms from the straight-laced psychologist to the giddy gardener. It works beautifully for him, and he is superb in that role. Paul Ford is a wonderful character actor who plays bombastic buffoons with bravado. And, Brando is excellent as the wonderful interpreter whom we know translates things to come out his way. His opening dialog is very good – in Oriental theatre style, he is the narrator who gives the story's background and sets the stage, so to speak.

Films in which white actors play other races draw the ire of some people yet today. If they are derogatory of the race or character, they surely should be criticized. But, otherwise not. Because this is theater (on stage or on film), and that is part of what acting is all about. Making one's self into another character or person, of whatever age, race, physical condition, mental state or appearance – is a hallmark of acting. To aspiring thespians or established actors, the challenge of a different or demanding role is energizing. I played Hsieh Ping-Kuei in a college production of "Lady Precious Stream" by Chinese playwright and director S.I. Hsiung. Mr. Hsiung went to London in 1932 to pursue post- graduate studies of Shakespeare. Shortly after his arrival, he wrote Lady Precious Stream in English, adapting it from his Chinese culture. It was a huge success, running for 1,000 performances in 1935 and 1936 at the People's National Theatre of London. Its cast was all Caucasian, and in 1936 it moved to Broadway in the U.S. where is success continued. It was made into movies in England in 1938 and 1950, adapted by Hsiung, again with Caucasian casts.

I should like to see someone make a movie of "Lady Precious Stream" shot on location with the full original script. It could be with Asians in all the roles, or it could include a mix if one or more Western stars wanted to tackle a Chinese role. I think many Western audiences today would enjoy it immensely. The story is a romantic, sometimes comic, domestic drama set in a time of instability during the Tang Dynasty.

In the meantime, "Teahouse of the August Moon" can entertain as a comic look at U.S. military management in a conquered country whose culture is much different from that of America.

If you're not a fan of Glenn Ford's westerns, and you think he's merely an ordinary everyman, check out his timed perfection in The Teahouse of the August Moon. With such great talent, it's a wonder Jack Lemmon rose to stardom so quickly. Glenn has all the hesitation, stammering, exasperation, and desire to fix that it takes to be a comic genius. If the first time around, you don't catch all his jokes, don't worry. You were just laughing so hard, you couldn't keep up with the fast pace.

Every time I watch this delightful gem, I laugh myself sick. It does have a long running time, but it certainly goes by quickly. Glenn Ford's character is stationed in Okinawa after WWII, to oversee reconstruction and the wellbeing of the Japanese people. But in his mission to spread democracy, he's completely clueless in his new environment. Marlon Brando plays the scene-stealing Sakini, a Japanese interpreter who winks at and nudges the audience when he wants to make an inside joke. But even with an interpreter, Glenn still finds himself getting into one misunderstanding after another.

While it's seen as "white washing" by today's standards, Marlon Brando didn't intend for his performance to be offensive. In fact, he lived in a nearby Japanese village for four months to absorb the mannerisms, accent, and mentality of the local people. I found his portrayal of the savvy interpreter to be flawless; not only that, but I couldn't find any trace of his usual expressions or gestures. He completely transformed himself.

The story is heartwarming, funny, smart, and bittersweet. From Eddie Albert's obsession with soil and worms to Machiko Kyo's touching tea ceremony, this 1956 comedy is a one-of-a-kind gem with countless delightful moments.

Marlon Brando stars as a Japanese interpreter and Glenn Ford plays a captain who has been in almost every branch in the military. Ford is ordered to go to a Japanese village to teach the people about democracy and to build a schoolhouse in the shape of the pentagon. The Japanese are only interested in building a teahouse and their isn't enough money to build both. The Japanese try to sell some homemade stuff but it won't sell until Ford finds out that they also make brandy. The military can't get enough brandy, so they build a teahouse instead of a schoolhouse. The military don't like what Ford is doing so they send a psychiatrist but he ends up helping them out instead. I thought Glenn Ford was great here and Brando also did a good job.

Marlon Brando was amazing in this film. I saw the comments made on TCM before they started the film and they said he saw the stage play and begged Paramount (?) to let him have a part in it when they made the film. They said he could have any part he wanted and he picked Sakini, the translator. As a Japanese teacher I want to tell you that I was stunned at his perfect accent! He spoke English exactly as a native Japanese person would. If I hadn't been told ahead of time that it was Marlon Brando, there is no way you could have convinced me that it wasn't a native Japanese actor doing the part. I could see that an attempt was made to make the natives look uneducated and doltish, but having lived in Japan for a year and a half, I simply couldn't see them that way. All you have to do is take a few minutes to watch any people and see the intelligence in their eyes and in their mannerisms and you can see how intelligent they really are whether YOU understand their language or not!

For a guy who had some heavy duty roles,Waterfront,Sreetcar etc. this role was a real challenge for Brando and he is fabulous and steals movie although Glenn Ford is great too. This shows Brando's brilliance as an actor not that there was ever any doubt but this early in his career to take this comedic challenge shows his versatility. Is Glenn Ford ever bad? I don't think he gets the credit for all his talent. This movie probably could not be made today a victim of PC. Must have Asian play Asian and don't offend the the Japanese although the only people made to look like fool were the Americans which is fine with me because it's a comedy and people are suppose to look foolish. Never on, but caught on TCM.