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James Shigeta

bokinaka
Licensing

The Occupation Service Comedies

The late 50s and early 60s saw a number of films centered on the postwar occupation of Japan, like "Cry for Happy". These were not war movies, but comedies or love stories, and in many cases both.

Other notable Occupation-themed films are "The Teahouse of the August Moon" and "Sayonara" starring Marlon Brando and "The Geisha Boy" starring Jerry Lewis.

This was a boom period for popular interest in Japan because many American soldiers returned home with good impressions of Japan during the Occupation.

Based on this original

"Cry for Happy" 2
uploaded by bokinaka
Publicity still from "Cry for Happy" (1961). James Shigeta is the second from the left. Also pictured are Donald O'Connor and Glenn Ford (back of head). More »


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