My Geisha (1962)

Director:

Jack Cardiff

Writers:

Norman Krasna (screenplay)
Norman Krasna (story)

Release Date:

February 1962 (Austria)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's the WACKIEST HOAX That Ever Turned the Screen Hilarious!

Plot:

Paul Robaix is a well known director, married to Lucy Dell, a famous movie star. Robaix wants to make a movie of the classic play Madame Butterfly...

Plot Keywords:

Madame Butterfly | Geisha | Director | Producer | Disguise

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Shirley MacLaine	...	Lucy Dell / Yoko Mori
Yves Montand	...	Paul Robaix
Edward G. Robinson	...	Sam Lewis
Robert Cummings	...	Bob Moore
Yoko Tani	...	Kazumi Ito
Tatsuo Saito	...	Kenichi Takata
Tamae Kyokawa	...	Amatsu Hisako
Ichirô Hayakawa	...	Hisako
Alex Gerry	...	Leonard Lewis
Tsugundo Maki	...	Shiga
George Furness	...	George (Robaix's butler)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Shu Umeara did the makeup for 'Shirley McClaine''s Geisha role after Michael Westmore, the regular make-up man, fell ill. His design catapulted Shu to international recognition and he founded a studio of his own.

Goofs:

Factual errors: A huge premiere is planned for the movie Lucy is working on mere days after the final scene is shot; in reality, a major film of the magnitude she's starring in would take months for editing and other post-production work.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Paul Robaix: Keep bowing, you little ham.

Movie Connections:

References The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)

Soundtrack:

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

top of my "guilty pleasures" list

This film is at the top of my "guilty pleasures" list of films; not a great film but one for which I have great affection. I first saw it in the mid 60's when I was a teenager at a Saturday afternoon matinée. Then, I had no idea what the title meant. The word geisha was totally new to me. At that age I would go to a Saturday matinée and watch whatever was offered, and as I watched this film I found myself falling in love with Shirley MacLaine, the music of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and Japan. I credit it with starting my abiding interest in and fascination with the culture of Japan and for my making several visits to that country as an adult. I watch it once a year between Christmas and New Year on my now worn VHS tape version. I have been looking forward, in vain, to it's release on DVD which for some reason has yet to happen and to seeing it once again in all its wide screen charm. p.s. Finally, Paramount has condescended to release this film in DVD format and it looks and sounds great.