Product Details

• Actors: Shirley MacLaine, Yves Montand, Edward G. Robinson, Robert Cummings, Yoko Tani
• Directors: Jack Cardiff
• Writers: Norman Krasna
• Producers: Steve Parker
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 119 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630210131X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,647 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Please give this movie the DVD treatment!, July 5, 2004

By 

D. Knouse (vancouver, washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Geisha [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I know I would give this film an even higher rating if it was ever brought to DVD with a widescreen presentation. There are so many scenes in this film where the actors heads are cut in half(vertically) and so many spectacular shots of Japanese vistas that having this film seen only on VHS(fullscreen) is actually a felony in the history of color filmmaking. That aside, the story is a comedy laced with genuine drama and fantastic character acting from both Shirley MacLaine and Bob Cummings surrounding the filming of "Madame Butterfly" at authentic Japanese locales. Fans of Yves Montand will not be disappointed for he brings a surprising range of emotions from one scene to the next, alternating between witty banter(particularly with Bob Cummings) to gripping heartache near the end of the story. The supporting cast is solid, led by veteran actor Edward G. Robinson in a role that is a far cry from his "Little Caesar" days. One of my few complaints lies in the fact that once in a while a Japanese extra will scowl at Shirley MacLaine when she is portraying her Geisha character with a little too much stereo-type. I certainly don't blame them for cringing once in a while. It would be like a young Japanese man portraying a Redneck Cowboy in front of a crowd of extras from Texas. However, Shirley MacLaine nails this role down pat after a few scenes early in the film where first-time director Jack Cardiff probably should have gone for another take. There are a couple of scenes that look too staged to be believed, while later in the film there are some excellent scenes with fantastic acting from all concerned. Once in a while there is also some voice-over dubbing that doesn't quite match the lip-movement. There are a few other scenes that suggest that Jack Cardiff was once a stage director at one time, such as: instead of having a split-screen effect and editing the actor's voices in later, the whole set is cut in two with a thin partition separating the action on either side as the actors do their scenes on the telephone. It makes for a great live effect that feels kinetic and touching . A while back, say ten years ago, I was in a Shirley MacLaine-fan mode and I rented everything I could find with her in it. I saw "The Apartment" and I thought she was the cutest actress I had ever seen, yet she had more emotional range than I had initially anticipated. I was subsequently thrown for a loop. I rented "My Geisha" in the hopes of seeing more stellar work from her, and in all seriousness I am surprised she was not nominated for the Oscar for this role. She plays two different characters, she is comedic, she cries, she sings, and she is absolutely gorgeous dressed as Geisha Yoko-Mori. As for the comedy in this story, Bob Cummings rules the roost here inducing full-throated chuckling on my part through the use of witty dialogue and his understated, under-rated physical comedy. This film has plenty in it to recommend it whole-heartedly: comedy, romance, wit, glorious photography, oftentimes inspired direction from Jack Cardiff, and four great lead performances mixed with some solid work from the supporting cast. Now if they'd only release this little gem on DVD my collection would reach one step closer to perfection. Take it easy...and don't jump into any volcanoes! Thank you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars East meets West in a sweet comedy, August 26, 2002

By 

Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Geisha [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Shirley MacLaine stars as a movie star and Yves Montand plays her director-husband. He wants to film Madame Butterfly in Japan with an all-Japanese cast. She plots (with producer Edward G. Robinson) to disguise herself as a Japanese actress and do the film without telling her husband, to prove she can do a serious role, even though Montand wants to prove he can make an important. She dresses as a geisha, gets the part, and they start shooting, but her co-star, Robert Cummings, starts to fall in love her.

MacLaine is overly-cute and almost annoying, until she redeems herself in the final scene. Yves Montand is very, very attractive, French accent and all. He is good at playing the sensitive man whose pride is crushed by his tricky wife. Robert Cummings is the comedy relief and keeps things lively as the leading man who chases all his leading ladies. Robinson is properly gruff and cranky, as one supposes rich and powerful produces might be. This is a really enjoyable family film.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, December 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Geisha [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I thought "My Geisha" was an extremely enjoyable film. It really captures the struggle of a foreign woman trying to learn the meaning of becoming a Japanese geisha. I must note that this movie, filmed in the 1960's, was able to show geisha in their prime, which is very pleasant to see in an age where the art of geisha has become to wither. For any geisha fan, this movie is worth watching.