Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Barbarian and the Geisha


From Wikipedia:

The Barbarian and the Geisha is a 1958 film directed by John Huston and starring John Wayne.

Townsend Harris (Wayne) is sent by President Pierce to Japan to serve as the first U.S. Consul-General to that country. Harris discovers enormous hostility to foreigners, as well as the love of a young geisha.

Based on the true story of American diplomat Townsend Harris, his time in Japan in the 1850s and 60s, and his romance with a 17-year-old geisha named Okichi. Their story is one of the most well-known folk tales in Japan. The real Harris died in New York in 1878, and the real Okichi committed suicide in Shimoda in 1892.

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