Sayonara

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

A US Air Force major in Kobe confronts his own opposition to marriages between American servicemen and Japanese women when he falls for a beautiful performer.

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Drama Romance

A US Air Force major in Kobe confronts his own opposition to marriages between American servicemen and Japanese women after he falls for a beautiful performer.A US Air Force major in Kobe confronts his own opposition to marriages between American servicemen and Japanese women after he falls for a beautiful performer.A US Air Force major in Kobe confronts his own opposition to marriages between American servicemen and Japanese women after he falls for a beautiful performer.

Director
- Joshua Logan
Writers
- Paul Osborn
- James A. Michener
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Joshua Logan
Writers
- Paul Osborn
- James A. Michener
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 4 Oscars
- 8 wins & 18 nominations total

Colonel Crawford
(as Douglas Watson)

Reiko Kuba

Fumiko-San

Soo Yong

Teruko-San

Shochiku Kagekidan Girls Revue

Theatrical Revue

Peter Brown

Second Military Police
(voice)
(uncredited)

Jane Chung

Undetermined Secondary Role
(uncredited)

Carlo Fiori

Chaplain
(uncredited)

Dennis Hopper

Military Police
(voice)
(uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

General at Tokyo Airport
(uncredited)

Director
- Joshua Logan
Writers
- Paul Osborn
- James A. Michener
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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9:57

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Audrey Hepburn was offered the role of a Japanese bride opposite Marlon Brando but turned it down. She explained that she "couldn't possibly play an Oriental. No one would believe me; they'd laugh. It's a lovely script, however I know what I can and can't do. And if you did persuade me, you would regret it, because I would be terrible."

Goofs
When Eileen and Major Gruver visit Nakamura backstage, Gruver says he thought the kabuki performance could have used Marilyn Monroe, and Nakamura allows that he too is a fan of Miss Monroe. In 1957, when the movie was filmed, this conversation would have made sense. But it takes place in 1951, at a time when Marilyn Monroe was still a small-part player, little known to the public. It is highly unlikely that even Gruver would have known who she was, and impossible that Nakamura would have, that early in her career.

Quotes
Major Gruver: [at a traditional tea ceremony: watching, as a Japanese man spends a lot of time carefully making a cup of tea] He makes such a production of everything.
Hana-ogi: The pleasure does not lie in the end itself... it's the pleasurable steps *to* that end.

Connections
Featured in Slaying the Dragon (1988)

Soundtracks
Sayonara
("Goodbye") (1957)
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Performed by Miiko Taka (uncredited)

User reviews67

Featured review

Beautiful film.

Sayonara is one of my special favorites. I love rediscovering this beautiful film. Personally I disliked the book; I found it cowardly. Brando is apparently responsible for the courageous ending of the film and I bless him for it. I find he was extraordinarily brave way back in 1957 when Sayonara was made. Strong, wonderful cast are a delight; James Garner, Patricia Owens and the two Oscar winners, Buttons and Umeki support Brando and Miiko Taki. The soundtrack is also lovely.