Opération geishas

It's a durn shame that the actual filming locations aren't listed here, as of July 2008. A title card at the beginning wants us to believe that this was filmed at the US Naval base in Japan in 1951 right after WW II, but for starters, we know this was filmed in 1960/1961. All the inside shots could be filmed on a set. The picture starts at a geisha performance, with the show and the girls being explained to the navy and to the viewer. Sailors led by Murray Prince (O'Connor) are assigned to help CPO Cyphers (Glenn Ford) for a military press project. Sharp viewers will recognize Joe Flynn as John McIntosh, rep for the U.S. press. He will be the Captain in McHale's Navy in 1962. Watch for Ted Knight (from Mary Tyler Moore) as Glick, the Admiral's assistant. Also, Miyoshi Umeki, one of the geisha girls, will be the housekeeper in Courtship of Eddie's Father in 1969. At a press corp meeting, the marines confront the navy, and the lies and mixups begin. While a little dated now, the exotic Japanese kimonos and house decorations, authentic or not, must have made for an interesting film at the time. Similar to "Walk Don't Run" which Cary Grant would make in 1966. Some clever bits about a spaghetti western done Japanese style. Keep an eye out for Harriet MacGibbon, the Admiral's wife - she was Mrs. Drysdale in Beverly Hillbillies. At 110 minutes, this goes on pretty long, but its an entertaining film.

It's 1952. Navy photographer Andy Cyphers (Glenn Ford) gets three new recruits. When he gets pressed for coverage during wartime, he claims that they are supporting an orphanage in Japan. Once in Japan, they accidentally take over a geisha house. When the Navy and reporters take an interest, the guys and girls quickly recruit children to be their orphans.

This may be a bit edgy for its time. I wasn't around. So I don't know. It has a mildly amusing premise. The execution is mildly amusing. The sex comedy part is rather hit and miss for me. The girls are stuck operating at that one gear. The best part happens when the Admiral tries to adopt. Booby is a funny word.

The female oriental stars of Sayonara, Miko Taka and Miyoshi Umeki, team once again for a story dealing with the American occupation of Japan in Cry For Happy. At least the film is not as tragic for Miyoshi as Sayonara was. It's also not as good, but it's also a good deal lighter.

The American leads are Glenn Ford who was also in a film about the post war occupation in The Teahouse Of The August Moon and Donald O'Connor. Ford is a Navy CPO in charge of photographic unit and O'Connor is one of his new men, the others being James Shigeta and Chet Douglas. Through an incredible combination of circumstances the four of them wind up living in a geisha house that Taka runs. Ford during a moment of inter-service rival bragging, boasts publicly of sponsoring an orphanage and has to make good on that for Admiral Howard St. John and more important the Admiral's wife, Harriet MacGibbon. Believe it or not it all works out.

Cry For Happy is a little slow at times, but enough laughs are there for it to be enjoyable. Best scene in the film involves Miyoshi Umeki discouraging nosy reporter Joe Flynn from adopting one of the 'orphans' with her broken English. Red tape is red tape in any language and culture.

Next best scene is at the very end with Ford having to provide temporary headquarters for an influx of real orphans his new establishment is getting, but is not ready to receive yet. And we can't forget the film that was shot with Navy equipment lent on the sly by Ford to aspiring Japanese film producer Robert Kino. I guess you could call it a Sushi western. It gets audience approval, but not quite the way Kino was hoping for.

The team of George Marshall and Glenn Ford is not often discussed as a director/actor combination. But some very funny comedies were turned out be this pair. Cry For Happy will be enjoyed by Glenn Ford's still legion of fans.

I don't think this was made to be a history commentary. Sometimes a film is made to help people heal from the horrors of past traumas. Glen Ford had an amazing gift that few people realized. He had the ability to make you fall in love, to really make you cry, to be furious, to laugh your heart out and to make us look at ourselves. Another of these films but in my estimation a 10, is Tea House Of The August Moon. One no one should miss. This little film here may be fluf, but compared to today's trash, this gets my vote every time. For families, guys who want a good clean! laugh, and just any bunch of people, it is safe, you could have a good time.

clean !augh and for laugh,

When I saw the title "Cry for Happy" and knew this was a Glenn Ford film set in Japan, I braced myself. I thought, perhaps, it was a mess like "Teahouse of the August Moon"...a popular Ford film with Marlon Brando doing a godawful impersonation (more a parody) of a Japanese guy! Fortunately, it was not like the earlier film and was actually reasonably sensitive in its portrayals of Japanese women and culture.

Chief Petty Officer Cyphers (an odd name....played by Glenn Ford) is in charge of a group of sailors at a photographic unit stationed in Japan in 1952. The country is still occupied by the Americans following the war and Cyphers and his men are real schemers. They come up with a scheme to get themselves bivoaced in a Geisha house...not realizing Geishas are NOT nor have ever been prostitutes (a common but sad misconception among American troops stationed there). While they are able to somehow convince the women to house them, MANY complications arise...most notably when folks think the place is an orphanage! See what's next.

The acting by the Japanese people in the film is decent and the plot far more sensitive than I expected. Now it's not like it's a super-politically correct film...but at least they made an attempt to make something good here.

Overall, a cute and enjoyable film....one that really is worth seeing, especially since things work out so well at the end.