Sayonara poster

Sayonara

"I am not allowed to love. But I will love you if that is your desire..."

6.7(151)19572h 27m3

Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver is reassigned to a Japanese air base and is confronted with US racial prejudice against the Japanese people. The issue is compounded because a number of the soldiers become romantically involved with Japanese women, in defiance of US military policy. Ordinarily, a by-the-book officer, Gruver must take a position when a buddy of his, an enlisted man, Joe Kelly, falls in love with a Japanese woman, Katsumi, and marries her. Gruver risks his position by serving as best man at the wedding ceremony.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • japan
  • based on novel or book
  • u.s. air force
  • air force
  • major
  • interracial relationship
  • interracial marriage
  • racial prejudice
  • post war japan
  • kabuki
  • kobe japan

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Joshua Logan

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereNRNew York City, New York5 Dec 1957
    • TheatricalLos Angeles, California25 Dec 1957
  • AustriaAT

    • Theatrical121 Jun 1963
  • BrazilBR

    • PhysicalLFox Home mj.gov.br29 Mar 2005
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1227 Feb 1958
  • ItalyIT

    • TheatricalMilan7 Mar 1958
  • NetherlandsNL

    • Physical12DVD1 Jan 2005

Frequently asked questions

Sayonara was released on 25 December 1957.

Audience reviews

2
  • W

    Wuchak

    11/10/2021

    7/10

    _**Brando’s romantic culture clash in Japan after WW2**_ In 1951, an American Air Force pilot serving in Korea (Marlon Brando) is reassigned to Kobe, Japan, where he deals with his American fiancé (Patricia Owens) and a Japanese performer who attracts his attention (Miiko Taka). The problem is there’s a military order against fraternizing with indigenous women. James Garner and Red Buttons have peripheral roles wh…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    2/13/2025

    6/10

    Though it does try to deal with some quite poignant issues, I’m afraid it struggles to engage as it plods along a bit too sedately for 2½ hours. It’s set in an immediately post-war Korea and sees “Joe” (Red Buttons) fall in love with a Japanese gal. Now that’s strictly against the rules of fraternisation and he risks an immediate court martial. It’s only going to get more precarious when he decides to marry “Katsumi”…

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