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rudi-samborski
Reviews
The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)
One of the few films that really repays repeated viewing.
The Teahouse of the August Moon 1956 Daniel Mann dir. Vern J Sneider author and John Patrick playwright Starring Glen Ford, Marlon Brando.
This film is the one most people will recall as the one that features Brando playing an oriental coolie. More specifically, he plays an Okinowan Interpreter who presents a tale of culture clash between the US occupational forces and the native Okinowans following WW2.
Detractors will argue that the stage play was superior, and that Brando was miscast. They may or may not have validity, and most of us, including me, will never know. What we are left with however, remains one of my very favourite films. It's a very well conceived and intelligent comedy. If I were to level any criticism, it would be that the pacing is rather too quick. The laughs mostly come too thick and fast to digest, but at least repeat viewing pays off.
As it was made in 1956, the style is also of its time, and this includes, to an extent, the humour too. I enjoy this as part of the experience. Making a 'period' film is a very different thing to making a contemporary one of its own time (or within 10 years anyway). In other words, this lends authenticity to the period in social terms, which is close to impossible to do by any other means.
I estimate, I have watched 'TeaHouse' at least a dozen times over the last 20 years. The experience has never diminished in all that time. Marlon Brando commands attention every moment he is on screen, but its Glen Ford whose performance I most enjoy. I can't imagine any other actor doing full justice to the role of Capt. Fisbee after witnessing his performance. Yes, it is larger than life, but that's part of the style of the cinematic period. What counts is his delivery, his body language and the seamless alternation between bungling weakling, and sensitive intelligent humanitarian.
Brando himself, is believable in his very demanding role. He doesn't pull it off perfectly. There are fine cracks in one or two places, but I think the job he did remains a credit to him. Few actors, other than Okinowan ones, could have done as much I suspect.
Moby Dick (1956)
flavour of the period
I do understand the criticism of Gregory Peck. His character seems too young and not nearly tortured enough to do Ahab full justice.
The book obsesses about the religious significance of everything. You get a flavour of that with this film too, with superstition seamlessly blended in as well. Orson Wells awesome cameo as the preacher sets up and supports this important plot element. Important because, this is how men thought and dealt with the ongoing risk associated with seafaring. They were literally at the mercy of nature & the elements for months & years at a time.
An enduring image of the film for me is the scene where a member of the crew is seen carving patterns on Queequeg's (already heavily decorated) body using a knife. Queequeg himself is stoic and resigned to die at this point. Ishmael though, is outraged on discovering this abuse of his friend. This is unique to the screenplay, and is a brilliant dramatic instrument.
Ahab: 'From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.' This line was also borrowed by Ricardo Monteban's Khan in 'The Wrath of Khan'.
Melville was inspired to write his tale by the personal account of Owen Chase, the son of a survivor of the Ship Essex, sunk by a whale in the Pacific. The whale charged twice; knocking itself out the first time.
Houston's film seems to capture a flavour of the period. It's probably substantially inaccurate, but it's nevertheless convincing. No other version of Moby Dick I've seen has been able to pull that off.