Product Details

• Actors: Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford, Machiko Kyo, Eddie Albert, Paul Ford
• Directors: Daniel Mann
• Format: NTSC, Color, Widescreen
• Subtitles: French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Studio: Warner Brothers
• Run Time: 123 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000KE045M
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,718 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Geisha Story, July 11, 2007

By 

Daisy Brambletoes (the Shire) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Teahouse Of The August Moon (DVD) Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford (DVD)

I first saw this film when I was 9 or 10, at a time when I was already a bit of a Japanophile, and vaguely aware of geisha because of a beautiful music box I got one Christmas that had a tiny dancing geisha inside, and so when Lotus Blossum (the wonderful Machiko Kyo, who has played opposite such greats as Toshiro Mifune) wore her lovely lavendar kimono with the purple parasol, and later danced in the Tobiki Teahouse, it was one of the most magical things I had ever seen, and began my lifelong fascination with geisha.

This charming, often under-rated movie is set in post-war Okinawa, which looks in this film as if it was still lost in time (I half expect to see the blind swordsman, Zatoichi, comning down the road). The main lesson being taught, I suppose, is that people like Col.Purdy see the world in a very narrow perspective and wanted to squeeze his little bit of conquered Japan into his own image. He is a bureaucrat who doesn't understand the Army, doesn't understand Japan, and doesn't seem to understand anything that rocks his little boat. And even though the hard work of Captain Fisby and the people of Tobiki in restoring their village is succeeding beyond anyone's wildest dreams, Purdy nearly destroys it to make it conform to his obtuse reality.

The kudos of this film go to Glenn Ford, Eddie Albert, and Machiko Kyo for unforgetable characters, and Brando is likable as a Japanese gofer, even if he still looks and sounds like Brando beneath the makeup. It is not one of his best roles, but it is still fun to watch.

Minor quibbles:
Why does Lotus Blossom wear her geta and zori indoors, and why does Brando slip several times and call her a "Gee-sha girl" unless he is catering to the name occupational troops ignorantly gave to hookers pretending to be geisha? That doesn't make sense since he does his best to explain to Fisby what a geisha actually is. I would also like to know more about Lotus Blossom, where she came from, why she was in Okinawa at all.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teahouse of the August Moon, March 25, 2008

By 

Marty Field "book enthusiast" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Teahouse Of The August Moon (DVD) Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford (DVD)

This was a movie on DVD. It had all the promotional material I'd like to know: actors and director, wide or full screen, black and white or color, sound capabilities, etc. A color picture of the actors on the cover was important. If I hadn't seen it, I'd want to know something about the plot. It actually was a popular play just after World War II and then was filmed in the 1950s.
It's about a well-meaning US Army Lieutenant in Okinawa, who is somewhat of a misfit in the service. He is given the job of carrying out the Pentagon plan for reconstruction for a small village there after the war. He is given a rogue of a native interpreter to help, but the people and interpreter have their own ideas about what's good for them. Along the way he is given a Geisha girl, which adds to the confusion. There are many subtle witicisms and body language communicates even more, which helps as there are two languages. He comes to understand their point of view and adapts to what they want of him. They value his kindness, fairness and abilities. It is a humorous look at cultural views and interaction, sometimes with misunderstanding, but how with good will people can work together for a positive outcome.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They just don't make 'em like they used to!, January 23, 2009

By 

Richard Muller "old school audiologist" (Bradenton, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Teahouse Of The August Moon (DVD) Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford (DVD)

My parents took me to this film at its opening at Loews, in Manhattan, New York. It is a gem of a movie, filled with characters so vivid and well turned out, that it is easy to immerse yourself in it. Up to that time I had only seen Brando in "On The Waterfront", so the transformation was over-whelming! Glenn Ford always seemed to fit the role of a put-upon Army or Navy subordinate, and Paul Ford, who is never able to cope with the depth and complications of the world outside the military. Throw in Eddie Albert as the mad gardener, and a very young Harry Morgan with a yen for 7-star batata, and you have the makings of an absolutely wonderful story. Never mind the wonderful Japanese actors, who not only lend an aura of authenticity, but are really into the making of their story--which opens your eyes to the importance of other people's traditions and culture. If you don't laugh yourself silly, well -- maybe you just need a shot of 10-star batata!!