Ricardo Montalban as a Japanese was ridiculous. His 'fake' Japanese eyes looked ridiculous as did his whole role. They couldn't find a Japanese actor to play that part?
"If I don't suit chu, you kin cut mah thoat!"
I couldn't agree more! Japanese men are gorgeous and miscasting that role is practically criminal.
shareFrom the 1950s and even until now--think Johnny Depp as Tonto--it has been very common to cast people in roles different from their own ethnicity. What comments like this one are made, they are usually made in ignorance.
It may not have been possible in the 1950s to find a Japanese actor who spoke English well enough to carry off the role. And because Japanese drama comes from a very different tradition than the American theater tradition, it may not have been possible to find a Japanese male actor who could carry offplay the role in a way suitable to an American director such as Josh Logan.
And also, keep in mind that 1951 was only six years after the end of World War II. There was still many hatreds and bigotries that still existed in both countries. In this movie, for example, The producers put Brando's and James Garner's lives in danger because it is possible that Japanese actors may have attacked the actors and the file crew for real.
As to the matter of casting ethnic roles, I know of a production right now that will be looking for a beautiful--not beautiful in some Platonic sense, but breath-takingly beautiful with or without make up--American Indian female in her 20s. They'll be looking for a darker Kate Beckinsale. So far, they haven't a clue as to who it will be because the available Indian actresses are not experienced enough to play the role.
You should keep in mind that Hollywood (and America generally) could accept interracial romance between a white man and a woman of color, but could not tolerate even the idea of such a relation between a man of color and a white woman. Turhan Bey, who was Turkish, was sometimes cast in roles in which he "romanced" white leading ladies (in real life, he reportedly romanced Lana Turner!). However, he has been quoted as reporting he could not recall ever being allowed to kiss one on screen. (The only Turk I ever knew had a very pale complexion, but apparently Hollwood cannot think of Turks as white.) All of this makes the filming of James Shigeta's role in "The Crimson Kimono" rather remarkable. Except for Sam Fuller, Hollywood directors may film a romance between a man of color and a white woman, but only after casting a white actor for the role.
shareEven stranger than Montalban in this film, was Brando himself one year earlier in "The Teahouse of August Moon". In that film he played an Okinawan man complete with accent and eye makeup. It's a strange performance but worth watching for Brando buffs.
shareJames Shigeta would have been great in this film.
shareShigeta was 9 years younger than Montalban, which might have had something to do with it. and likely besides the bigotry of the 50's, my guess is that Montalban was considered more bankable, with audience recognition. Shigeta hadn't made any films prior to 1959, (though it was a lead role), though he was well known as a singer both in Japan and the US.
"Turhan Bey, who was Turkish, was sometimes cast in roles in which he "romanced" white leading ladies"
Most Turks, including Bey, are Caucasian. His romancing of white leading ladies was just same-race romancing.
I can think of worse, but not for this film ...In this case Hollywood was behind in social acceptance of not having Asian actors in major roles (it took a very long time) . I grew up in a mixed racial neighborhood, with heaps of Japanese, Korean, Chinese couples, and lots of my buddies were biracial, American Dads -Japanese/Korean/Chinese/Filipino moms. If you said anything anti-any of those races, you got beat up by everybody.
Ricardo Montalban was difficult to envision as a Japanese. The worst role for a stereotypical Asian has to go to Mickey Rooney in "Breakfast at Tiffanys". His character was superfluous to the movie plot and seemed there just to lampoon Asians. Hollywood has a long history of having non-Asians playing Asian roles (like in the "Good Earth" and the Charlie Chan movies).
shareWell, Montalban did play KHAN!! Noonien Singh on Star Trek. Wasn't that character supposed to be Asian too? And let's not forget John Wayne as Genghis Khan. Actually, maybe we should forget that.
shareKhan was supposed to be Indian. I thought maybe the character (that he played in Sayonara) was supposed to be half-Japanese at first. But people just weren't as touchy about this back then, as well as there were limited options for studios to do when portraying other races. It's not a big deal to me.
shareMonatalban was excellent as the Japanese kabuki actor.
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