Red Buttons in Sayonara
Posted on July 19th, 2006 by TK
James Garner as Captain Mike Bailey, Marlon Brando as Maj. Lloyd “Ace” Gruver,
Red Buttons as Airman Joe Kelly and Eddie’s nanny, aka Miyoshi Umeki as Katsumi Kelly
Red Buttons as Airman Joe Kelly and Eddie’s nanny, aka Miyoshi Umeki as Katsumi Kelly
One of my favorite actors, Red Buttons, died recently. Although most people my age remember his role in the doomed ship (and movie), the Poseidon Adventure, I remember him for his role in Sayonara.
Sayonara is one of those movies you catch part of on a rainy afternoon and wonder how it is that you’ve never heard of it before. I have the VHS version and I see that is also on DVD now. I read the book by James Michener, but found it very racist and depressing. Paul Osborn did a nice job of translating the basic beauty of the story to the screen without the racist and overly-depressing elements of the book. Read Red Buttons obituary here.
On a side note, Marlo Brandon was a fat old man to me until I saw the movie. What a handsome and interesting character he was! I never knew that about him until I watched him in Sayonara. He played his role as Maj. Lloyd “Ace” Gruver beautifully.
Poster available at Picture Show Magazine
That’s going onto my TIVO wish list now.
Update: It’s on in about an hour and a half (2:30 PM PST). Good timing!
That’s funny! I used to get so frustrated waiting for it to come on that I finally bought the VHS (how 1990’s of me). Next, the DVD! Hope you like it. Please let me know what you think. Gee, I hope it’s not another chick flick…I don’t think it will be.
Thanks for the recommendation.
One reason it is probably not a chick flick is that it is mostly shown from Marlon Brando’s point-of-view. Putting myself in his or Buttons’s shoes, as a guy, I was just thinking, “Those guys have it sweet!” I think this is a movie that probably has something for everybody.
All four main characters were wonderful. Brando was great to watch, as he delivers something both deep and believable. Buttons portrayed contentment very well. Miyoshi Umeki was just plain cute. And Miiko Taka might have (MIGHT HAVE. I hear Treebeard saying in my ear, “Now don’t be hasty.”) just upstaged Michelle Yeoh as my favorite Asian actress.
The way you described it as “How did this movie pass me by all these years” was just the right description to draw me in. I’m glad it proved true for me, too.
Rick,
I am so glad you liked it! It is a wonderful story. You might want to read the book by Michener, but be warned of its darker, racist tones. Be ready for a sad (disgusting, really) ending, too.
I have an awesome book-length interview of Marlon Brando during the filming of the movie. I found it online about ten years ago and printed it up. I can’t find it anymore, but I’ve got the interview somewhere around this house. I will find it and post it…or at least email it to you. Perhaps it still is online and I just don’t know where.
Hi Theresa,
Yes. I’ll put that book on my list. I need to finish Hawaii, though. Believe it or not, I read hundreds of pages, only to set it down in the middle of December 7, 1941. (As much excitement as you would expect there, Michener wasn’t at the top of his game writing such material. I much prefer Herman Wouk for that kind of thing.)
I would love to see the Brando interview. His performance was quite amazing.