Harrison's Reports (1962)

50 HARRISON'S REPORTS April 7, 1962 "My Geisha" with Shirley MacLaine, Yves Montand, Edward G. Robinson, Bob Cummings, Yoko Tani (Paramount, July; 120 mins.) VERY GOOD. Deceptivity as a stellar skein in a plot-pattern is always intriguing if the viewer is let in on it, as you are in this one. It takes some strong storytelling, and even stronger playacting to see that no loose threads unravel themselves before the talc has played itself out to climaxes that are logical, believable and acceptable. All this is done with consummate skill, for it isn't until the end is approaching that the deceived (Yves Montand) gets wise. His own wife (Shirley MacLaine) palmed herself off on him as not only an attractive geisha girl, but possessed of the demanding talents he is looking for to star this new find in a "new wave'" version of Puccini's old "Madame Butterfly." There is a refreshingly appealing tone to it all. What helps to make it so, of course, are three of the starred players, - Miss MacLaine, Montand and Edward G. Robinson. They turn in superb performances, with Miss MacLaine giving the geisha character such physical and facial belicvability that it was easy to accept her in the role knowing all the time who she was while Montand was laboring under the belief that he had the real thing. Filmed in Japanese location spots, there is a vimi.i1 beauty to the story that leaves you almost breathless. The enthralling melodic force of the Puccini opera makes itself felt as the climax of the film story approaches and the curtain is ready to come down on a surprise finish that will please the patrons. That, too, was handled with a deft, cleverly conceived hand. It all adds up to a most pleasurable piece of entertainment. It has a wistfully soothing impact on your emotions; a beautiful appeal to your eye; a poignantly touching approach to your heart even if you may be beyond the reach of romantic impressionism. It is clean and captivating, luminous and lovely, harmonious and happy. Filmed in Tcchnirama, tinted in Technicolor this will help itself to big box office returns if it will be given the necessary help of "letting the people know." It merits being done on a big scale. This deals with picture making, - taking the viewer in back of the scenes which is always exciting. Yves Montand wants to break away from directing his wife's (Shirley MacLaine) pictures. He wants to do "Madame Butterfly" with an undiscovered geisha girl. Film producer Edward G. Robinson can't talk Montand out of it. Miss MacLaine doesn't want to be left out in the cold so she hies herself to sunny Japan and changes her whole personality. She is chosen from the other girls, of course. Montand thinks he has a real find. She is properly coached by Yoko Tani. Soon, Miss MacLaine knows all about the arts, manners and graces of that strange profession of the geisha. Her loveliness throws her leading man (Bob Cummings) for a loss. The toothy, gushy Cummings is all for marrying this geisha find. Montand is not without his admiration for his Japanese star. The picture proceeds* under Montand's direction and the final scene is to be shot. It is also time for decision, a most serious interlude in this play-within-a-picture for Miss MacLaine. She has learned a lot more about life in addition to wearing a wig, make-up, contact lenses, etc. She has learned about being a wife and a woman. More importantly, she has learned about a man's touchy pride. When the applauding audience demands this new geisha find, Miss MacLaine, as the American star, comes out instead. She explains that the geisha girl has entered a convent. Montand is introduced, as she showers all the credit on his brilliance as a director. He eats it up! Produced by Steve Parker; directed by Jack Carditf; screenplay by Norman Krazna. General patronage. ; • "All Fall Down" with Eva Marie Saint, Warren Beatty, Karl Maiden Angela Lansbury, Brandon deWilde (M-G-M, April; 111 mins.) GOOD. Between director John Frankenheimer and William Inge, who adapted this popular novel to the screen, they wanted to tone down the eccentricities of this Cleveland family. While it's still quite a brood with their strange behaviorism, they're an interesting, exciting and an individually betroubled lot of people. There is pregnancy without benefit of marriage; a talkative, overbearing, self -possessive mother who even makes it appear as if she has an incestuous yen for one of her sons. There is a pitiful suicide. The father likes his liquor, streetwalkers and other vices. It's all there, and holds with unwavering strength. It's of the cinematic stuff that proves how much further than the printed page can a film go when its transmission is in the hands of people who know their jobs. Of course, you had to have powerful and convincing performances. This, you have! Even Warren Beatty shows the strong, firm grip he has on the wastrel character he portrays. In this one he takes a big stride toward greater dramatic promise. Eva Marie Saint, who is just swept off her feet by Beatty, endows her role with sensitivity, poignancy, tenderness. Angela Lansbury, for all the crudeness she's mantled in somehow makes you feel sorry for her. Karl Maiden, Brandon deWilde turn in splendid performances, de Wilde especially. Here is where story, acting, direction blend harmoniously into a vehicle that should beget for itself some handsome returns. The tensions, the drama, the tightly paced tempo of the film lead up smoothly to those ebbing few moments of the tale with their irony, bitterness, remorse, disillusionment and, to repeat, a submissive pity for most of the folks out there in novelist James Leo Herlihy's fictional Cleveland. Some wonderful location shots, by the way, were lensed at Key West. A boy's (Brandon deWilde) worship for his older brother, though a wastrel, drifter, cheat (Warren Bettty) is a tender thing to behold. Young deWilde parts with his savings to help him. Both boys are unhappy. It's the fault of the parents (Karl Maiden and Angela Lansbury) . As Beatty "bums" his way around, he doesn't mind the trouble he gets himself in, - several jail sentences, loose love affairs with women of very low repute, fights, etc. His own home is not for him. But, he does return, again. This time he meets Eva Marie Saint, a friend of the family. Brandon deWilde, for all his youth, imagines himself in love with this thirtyish "old maid." Her wistful loveliness attracts Beatty. She is madly in love with him. They see each other, and it isn't long before Miss Saint is with child. There is no chance that Beatty will recognize his responsibility, - marry the girl. When she