Why as an Asian I have no problem with Rooney's character

Well, whether one finds it offensive or not, it still doesn't make it correct, considering it was 1961 (and not the WWII era) and you had a slew of Asian actors working in Hollywood even if they weren't of Japanese decent. Keye Luke and Philip Ahn come to mind and both had been working in the industry for over 20 years (and later, the two of them would star in KUNG FU). You also had James Hong and Sammee Tong. Of course, there was Sessue Hayakawa, who himself had been nominated for an Oscar in BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI. And of course, Hollywood and elsewhere was now even brining in actors from Japan to star in their pictures. Among them was Kurosawa regular Toshiro Mifune, who in 1961 starred in a Mexican film, (AMINAS TURJANO) which would be his first international movie, among many others. Though Mifune was probably not right for this part, it certainly would have been interesting casting.

ROFLMAO...you don't seem to understand the PC movement...everything is a stereotype or in poor taste UNLESS it mocks someone of European descent. Here's a little rhyme to remember: if you're white, they can make fun of you all night.

"Very offensive to just about anyone today"? Really? As hard as I try, I can't bring myself to be offended by it, and I think as a young white person I'm pretty typical in this regard.

You may think that, but you really are not typical if you think it is not offensive, you would be what most people- not everyone- today consider an outlier.

I am not actually casting any aspersions on any particular political tendencies with this.

I am simply stating that

1. I am able to put the entire issue into perspective and context and see the bigger picture (if you will pardon the expression) and appreciate a movie as a whole without being hampered by its minor flaws.

2. I am knowledgeable enough about classic movies made before the 1970s to understand that they must be judged from their own time frame and social context rather than using our 21st century sensitivities.

There is nothing "liberal" or "conservative" about appreciating a movie for its own merits and analyzing it as a whole. :)

Also as I stated in my post there are many issues and situations exposed in the movie that are far more problematic and controversial (both for conservatives or liberals) than Rooney's portrayal.

This movie is not the origin of stereotypes in Asian movies by a long shot. Once again you are attributing modern feelings and issues out of CONTEXT with the movie itself.

The true origin of stereotypes affecting asians today as yesterday is not the movies themselves but the lack of exposure and understanding between individuals and groups in real life. The fact however is that since then (and even before then) many movies have indeed furthered this understanding and therefore movies which continue such stereoptypes TODAY are indeed the ones you should rightfully condemn.

Again social and historical context is KEY.

To dissociate a movie from such context is to profoundly misunderstand the true nature of movies, which is at its very best a snapshot of the society and times in which it was made, for good or for evil.

Yet he is played by a white person too! Meanwhile his sons who do seem a bit more inept than just "wet behind the ear" are played by Asians. Many Asian stereoptypes are also depicted in the series, and while they are meant perhaps in a more gentle way than Yunioshi, there are nonetheless stereotypes.

This being said, I do agree that Charlie Chan is an enjoyable series and certainly SHOULD be viewed in its own historical and social context as well!

This was simply mentioned as a comparison.

As I said, while I do find Roney's characterization in poor taste, I find the general outcry against it as completely disproportionate and excessive.

-To Bordeaux Boy

Says the one with a French screen name and a French quote for signature :) (and yes I am also a French native).

I recently watched an episode of the show Gunsmoke, called "The Queue," in which Keye Luke (the hardest-working Chinese actor in Hollywood, in my opinion) plays a Chinese newcomer in Dodge. He's faced with prejudice, naturally. He starts out by saying things like, "Me good Chinese boy!" and "Me mean no trouble!"

Later, however, when he's alone with Doc and Marshal Dillon, he speaks English much better, and expresses himself in a normal fashion. The marshal asks him what happened to all that "Me good boy stuff," and he says "That's how you expect me to talk, isn't it?" And he goes on to explain that acting and talking that way helps him avoid trouble.

This episode aired in 1955 (check it out on YouTube, it's great), and Gunsmoke was an incredibly popular show. So I don't think you can say that audiences in 1961 "didn't know any better." Certainly some people didn't, but complex Asian characters played by actual Asians weren't nonexistent at that point.

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