Although filmed 10 years after the end of the American occupation of Japan in 1952, this movie is set during that year. The U. S. has had a military defense presence in Japan under peace treaty terms since then. But through the occupation after the war and during the Korean War (called a "conflict" at the time), the military presence could be widely seen around Japan - especially in the Tokyo area. The specific locations aren't given, but Columbia Pictures filmed most or all of the movie in Japan. Indeed, besides the Tokyo Bay scenery, the city street scenes especially show life in Japan years after the wars.
The movie is based on a 1961 novel of the same title by George Campbell. The film opens with a Geisha performance for the newly arrived Vice Admiral Junius Bennett, at the Yokosuka U. S. Naval Base. The Japanese Minister Kuni, through an interpreter, explains the ancient honorable profession of the Geishas.
"Cry for Happy," is a comedy romance that takes place when three Navy replacements of the photographic unit arrive. The U. S. Navy combat camera unit lab is in the basement of the Bank of Kobe. The new arrivals have been in the service awhile and all are chomping at the bit to film some action in Korea. But, if not that, they expect to enjoy the social life of the country, especially Geisha girls. The head of the Navy photo section is Chief Petty Officer Andy Cyphers (Glenn Ford). He has his own connections and operations going on, and has to straighten out the misconceptions of the new sailors about Geishas. Donald O'Connor plays Murray Prince, the second male lead. His character is a bit crass for the plot, but the other guys are all amenable to whatever CPO Cyphers has in mind. One of them is a Japanese-American, Suzuki, played by James Shigeta.
Through a Japanese contact and wannabe movie producer, Mr. Endo (played by Robert Kino), Cyphers finds lodging for the new arrivals "on the economy." That's a service term that refers to housing among civilian populations rather than on a military base in a foreign country. Stateside, it's what's known as living off base. Well, it turns out to be a Geisha house owned by Mr. Endo's cousin, who was supposedly away with her trainees for several weeks. But, the girls have all returned with mamasan Chiyoko. She won't tolerate any hanky-panky with her charges, so they all settle in - the girls in their quarters and the tars in theirs.
Then, at a joint armed forces press conference about the war and the various military branches serving in the area, the Navy gets a put-down for its news coverage and activities. To save face and get a leg up on the Marines and Air Force, Cyphers concocts a little white lie, making a sort of off-hand comment about his unit's work for a Japanese orphanage. Well, the story takes off from there with some very amusing, sometimes warm and just entertaining scenes. And, in the midst of this, romance develops for a couple of the sailors and Geisha girls, and things work out properly under Japanese customs.
This is a nice comedy with a respectful treatment of the Japanese, which one should expect anyway 15 years after WW II. The cast includes several Japanese actors, some of whom were well known and would appear in many Hollywood and Japanese films over the next couple of decades.
Here are some favorite lines form the film.
CPO Andy Cyphers, "You know, Mr. Endo, here, is Japan's most famous movie producer." Mr. Endo, "Ohhh, ...I not the most famous, just one of top two."
CPO Cyphers, looking at Suzuki's translation book, "Japanese for Beginners? You mean to say you're my interpreter?" Suzuki, "I'm sorry, chief, but I don't speak any Japanese." Cyphers, "You're kidding." Suzuki, "Well, my folks were born there, but they moved to California and the family only speaks English."
CPO Cyphers, "Oh, that's great. Now I need an interpreter for my interpreter." Suzuki, "Sorry, chief, but they didn't tell me I'd have to speak Japanese."
Press correspondent, "Terrific human interest story, eh McIntosh - sailors backing an orphanage?"
John McIntosh, "There's gotta be something phony about this. I've known Andy Cyphers for years, and he's never been mixed up with anything legitimate." Correspondent, "Oh, you wouldn't know a good story, McIntosh." McIntosh, "Well, I know Cyphers, and I'll believe it when I see the orphans."
Mr. Endo, about Murray Prince, "He has criminal mind." CPO Cyphers, "You're telling me."
Chiyoko, to her Geisha students in Japanese, when Suzuki poses as a petty officer, "If he's an American officer, Japan wouldn't have lost the war."
Chiyoko, "Yanks always in big hurry up - instant coffee, instant tea, instant girls."
Cyphers, "Actually, what we've done, uh, i..i..i..it hasn't been anything, really."
Mrs. Bennett, the admiral's wife, to Cyphers, "There, there, compose yourself, my dear." Turning to the press corps, she says, " He's just so full of it."
Chaplain, "Chief, only the true Samaritan could know the joy of good works."
Cyphers, "Uh, commander, sir. You know what I have just done? I have just thought of the greatest name for this project." Commander, "Name?" Cyphers, "Yes, sir, it's 'Operation Super Stork.'" Mumbling to Murray Prince, "Super Stork - didn't he catch it?'
Commander, "Cyphers, I may be very wrong about this, but I sense something unusual about this 'orphanage.' Now, for my report to the admiral - how many orphans do you say you have?"
Commander, "You haven't heard the end of this. You're heading for stripes." Cyphers, "On the sleeve?"
The movie is based on a 1961 novel of the same title by George Campbell. The film opens with a Geisha performance for the newly arrived Vice Admiral Junius Bennett, at the Yokosuka U. S. Naval Base. The Japanese Minister Kuni, through an interpreter, explains the ancient honorable profession of the Geishas.
"Cry for Happy," is a comedy romance that takes place when three Navy replacements of the photographic unit arrive. The U. S. Navy combat camera unit lab is in the basement of the Bank of Kobe. The new arrivals have been in the service awhile and all are chomping at the bit to film some action in Korea. But, if not that, they expect to enjoy the social life of the country, especially Geisha girls. The head of the Navy photo section is Chief Petty Officer Andy Cyphers (Glenn Ford). He has his own connections and operations going on, and has to straighten out the misconceptions of the new sailors about Geishas. Donald O'Connor plays Murray Prince, the second male lead. His character is a bit crass for the plot, but the other guys are all amenable to whatever CPO Cyphers has in mind. One of them is a Japanese-American, Suzuki, played by James Shigeta.
Through a Japanese contact and wannabe movie producer, Mr. Endo (played by Robert Kino), Cyphers finds lodging for the new arrivals "on the economy." That's a service term that refers to housing among civilian populations rather than on a military base in a foreign country. Stateside, it's what's known as living off base. Well, it turns out to be a Geisha house owned by Mr. Endo's cousin, who was supposedly away with her trainees for several weeks. But, the girls have all returned with mamasan Chiyoko. She won't tolerate any hanky-panky with her charges, so they all settle in - the girls in their quarters and the tars in theirs.
Then, at a joint armed forces press conference about the war and the various military branches serving in the area, the Navy gets a put-down for its news coverage and activities. To save face and get a leg up on the Marines and Air Force, Cyphers concocts a little white lie, making a sort of off-hand comment about his unit's work for a Japanese orphanage. Well, the story takes off from there with some very amusing, sometimes warm and just entertaining scenes. And, in the midst of this, romance develops for a couple of the sailors and Geisha girls, and things work out properly under Japanese customs.
This is a nice comedy with a respectful treatment of the Japanese, which one should expect anyway 15 years after WW II. The cast includes several Japanese actors, some of whom were well known and would appear in many Hollywood and Japanese films over the next couple of decades.
Here are some favorite lines form the film.
CPO Andy Cyphers, "You know, Mr. Endo, here, is Japan's most famous movie producer." Mr. Endo, "Ohhh, ...I not the most famous, just one of top two."
CPO Cyphers, looking at Suzuki's translation book, "Japanese for Beginners? You mean to say you're my interpreter?" Suzuki, "I'm sorry, chief, but I don't speak any Japanese." Cyphers, "You're kidding." Suzuki, "Well, my folks were born there, but they moved to California and the family only speaks English."
CPO Cyphers, "Oh, that's great. Now I need an interpreter for my interpreter." Suzuki, "Sorry, chief, but they didn't tell me I'd have to speak Japanese."
Press correspondent, "Terrific human interest story, eh McIntosh - sailors backing an orphanage?"
John McIntosh, "There's gotta be something phony about this. I've known Andy Cyphers for years, and he's never been mixed up with anything legitimate." Correspondent, "Oh, you wouldn't know a good story, McIntosh." McIntosh, "Well, I know Cyphers, and I'll believe it when I see the orphans."
Mr. Endo, about Murray Prince, "He has criminal mind." CPO Cyphers, "You're telling me."
Chiyoko, to her Geisha students in Japanese, when Suzuki poses as a petty officer, "If he's an American officer, Japan wouldn't have lost the war."
Chiyoko, "Yanks always in big hurry up - instant coffee, instant tea, instant girls."
Cyphers, "Actually, what we've done, uh, i..i..i..it hasn't been anything, really."
Mrs. Bennett, the admiral's wife, to Cyphers, "There, there, compose yourself, my dear." Turning to the press corps, she says, " He's just so full of it."
Chaplain, "Chief, only the true Samaritan could know the joy of good works."
Cyphers, "Uh, commander, sir. You know what I have just done? I have just thought of the greatest name for this project." Commander, "Name?" Cyphers, "Yes, sir, it's 'Operation Super Stork.'" Mumbling to Murray Prince, "Super Stork - didn't he catch it?'
Commander, "Cyphers, I may be very wrong about this, but I sense something unusual about this 'orphanage.' Now, for my report to the admiral - how many orphans do you say you have?"
Commander, "You haven't heard the end of this. You're heading for stripes." Cyphers, "On the sleeve?"