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The Barbarian and the Geisha

Released Sep 30, 1958 1h 45m History Drama List
40% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
On the eve of the Meiji Restoration, Japan is still a nation thoroughly mistrustful of Western influence. The U.S. government dispatches Townsend Harris (John Wayne) to the port village of Shimoda to serve as U.S. consul to Japan. There Harris and his interpreter, Henry Heusken (Sam Jaffe), meet resistance from the locals, who refuse to recognize his diplomatic status. Eventually Harris meets lovely geisha Okichi (Eiko Ando), who helps him bridge the cultural divide.
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The Barbarian and the Geisha

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
KC Star Staff Kansas City Star A richly picturesque, impressively framed drama. Mar 25, 2022 Full Review Isabel Quigly The Spectator Sincere, devout, expensive-looking and in result quite dreadful; attempting realism and achieving only the pastel prettiness of a badly-printed picture book. Oct 23, 2019 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Director John Huston seems to have sacrificed almost everything else in his desire to achieve pictorial loveliness in a fancied-up biography of Townsend Harris (woodenly played by John Wayne). Oct 23, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com One of John Wayne's worst and most embarrassing films, in which he is totally miscast and misdirected by Johnn Huston. Rated: D Mar 22, 2011 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Never seems fluid. Rated: C+ Mar 1, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The Pro's are wrong about this picture. It's out of character for Wayne but the story & content go a long way for this one. I think you can watch it over and over with the whole family, year after year, and still catch things you missed previously. I think it keeps attention without the need for super violence, screenshots, and sex. Keep in mind this is a true story as you watch & you might just learn a thing or two. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't know if this is a true "love" story or one that has been passed down as tradition. But the film is beautiful. Townsend Harris was the first consul to Japan and did forge a hard won treaty with Japan. He lived as a hermit on his return to America and never married. I think John Wayne was magnificent in this role- such a departure from his usual fare. He worked with an uncooperative director far from home and any help or friends. The Japanese cast was fabulous and Sam Jaffe was wonderful as always! Another gem overlooked and under appreciated in my opinion. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I liked this movie.This movie is about Townsend Harris.Harris was the fiist American Consul General.John Wayne played Harris. I like the story.Harris was frustrated by hostile Japanese guys.But he met a nice geisha.She helped Harris.Harris also saved many Japanese in order to prevent a disease.Harris met Japanese leaders and negotiated about treaty.It seemed that he became a good tomodachi(friend) with Japanese. The film was beautiful.The film was shot in Japan.I liked a scene when Harris met the Japanese leaders at Edo(Tokyo) castle. I really liked an actor, So Yamamura who played one of Samurai.His English was excellent. This is a great movie on Japan.It is a great movie which we learn history of Japan,although there are a lot of historical inaccuracy of this movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member not one of my favourites but ok Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member John Wayne really didn't fit the role well. Otherwise, a pretty decent movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member this and 'bllod alley' stand as 2 prime examples of wayne miscast as he tried 2 broaden his appeal and acting chops. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Barbarian and the Geisha

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Movie Info

Synopsis On the eve of the Meiji Restoration, Japan is still a nation thoroughly mistrustful of Western influence. The U.S. government dispatches Townsend Harris (John Wayne) to the port village of Shimoda to serve as U.S. consul to Japan. There Harris and his interpreter, Henry Heusken (Sam Jaffe), meet resistance from the locals, who refuse to recognize his diplomatic status. Eventually Harris meets lovely geisha Okichi (Eiko Ando), who helps him bridge the cultural divide.
Director
John Huston
Producer
Eugene Frenke
Screenwriter
Charles Grayson
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 30, 1958, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 45m
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