Yes, 67 years after it was released, it's easy to take all sorts of pc pot-shots at this movie. But it's a product of a James Michener book, like South Pacific, and it does really try - and sometimes succeed - in doing good things.
Mostly about condemning American - and in particular the American army's - racist views of the era. Brando's character, a war hero, moves from being terribly anti-Japanese to being able to see past all that. And the script is written in a way that he takes us on that journey, so that we arrive at the same conclusion.
Which it accomplishes largely by developing Hanna Ogi's character well past that of an Asian stereotype. That's somethi8ng that even South Pacific never did.
What I also found interesting here was the music. It is co clearly inspired by Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, particularly in its use of strings and humming choruses.
I strongly recommend this movie.
Mostly about condemning American - and in particular the American army's - racist views of the era. Brando's character, a war hero, moves from being terribly anti-Japanese to being able to see past all that. And the script is written in a way that he takes us on that journey, so that we arrive at the same conclusion.
Which it accomplishes largely by developing Hanna Ogi's character well past that of an Asian stereotype. That's somethi8ng that even South Pacific never did.
What I also found interesting here was the music. It is co clearly inspired by Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, particularly in its use of strings and humming choruses.
I strongly recommend this movie.