Motion Pictures and Television

NCIS - the Real World and TV Series

2009-06-01T10:33:00.026+09:00

My most favorite television program is CBS' TV series "NCIS" because of (1) my personal experience and (2) the script:

The Real World
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is the U.S. Department of the Navy primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency. When I worked for the U.S. Consulate General in Japan, one of my works was to assist the port visit by the U.S. 7th Fleet ships with the agents from the NCIS and Japanese police.

The U.S. 7th Fleet helps ensure the security of the huge region - from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south, and from the International Date Line to the 68th meridian east, which runs down from the India-Pakistan border - which includes many key countries like Russia, the People's Republic of China, North and South Koreas, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, and Pakistan.

There are 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft and 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the fleet. The seventeen ships, from aircraft carrier/flag ship to guided-missile destroyer/cruiser/mine sweeper, station at the two mother-ports in Japan. And one of their tasks is to get the understanding of its presence in the region and support from the peoples in those countries through port visit - with full media exposure and open to the public on board.

There were not much homicide like the TV series episode, but were lots of matters leading to the lawful problem. I handled 30-40 port visits, so the NCIS was very close to me.

CBS TV Series
The cast are very unique. Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray are good stars. Pauley Perrette and David McCallum are very exotic, which I like very much. I still remember well that McCallum played a role of Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born agent, in the 1960's TV series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." with Robert Vaughn. Amazing, he is still an incumbent star.

The tempo and technique of every moving scene (pan from left to right, and from right to left) is very good and scenario is excellent. Thank you, the cast and crew. I have been enjoying it! #YS

Tony Curtis

2009-04-26T13:32:00.017+09:00

I do not know why, but I clearly remember a movie called "The Rawhide Years" by Tony Curtis in my early childhood. By looking into movie materials recently, I found out that it was based on a novel by Norman A. Fox and produced by the Universal Studio in 1955.

Mid-1950's was several years after the World War II and Japan was in the midst of the reconstruction of the country. And the people's only pleasure in those days was going to see Westerns from Hollywood and Japanese Samurai (warrior) films. The stories were always good guys and bad guys fighting each other, and the good never fail to win.

The role by Tony Curtis in the movie was a cheat gambler who later turned to be a good guy. The story was little bit fresh to me and that might be a reason for me to remember it.

Twelve years later, I was a college student in Beverly Hills who lived in a house of the Jewish family. Coincidently, a maid at the house used to work for Mr. Curtis' house. She often told me about his private life, and I was very happy to listen to her.#

movies filmed in Hawaii

2009-01-11T17:50:00.011+09:00

It is widely known that Hollywood movies with great nature and mysterious jungle were shot in Hawaii such as "Planet of the Apes" (2001), "Jurassic Park"(2000 & 1992), "Godzilla" (1997), "Dinosaurs" (1997), "The Lost World" (1996), "Raiders of Lost Ark" (1980), and so on.

But I would like to point out that two musical films in late 1950's and early 60's made Hawaii famous worldwide because of their beautiful music.

SOUTH PACIFIC is a 1958 film adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific," and the film starred Rossano Brazi and Mitzi Gaynor in the leading roles.

The tunes "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Bali Hai" in the romantic story became very popular in the world.

BLUE HAWAII is a 1961 Paramount picture and starring Elvis Presley.

Elvis is in paradise, playing an ex-G.I. who comes home to Blue Hawaii. His mother expects him to climb the corporate ladder, but he would rather wear an aloha shirt than a white collar, so he goes to work as a tour guide.

Elvis sings a dozen of his original songs in the film, and some of music such as "Blue Hawaii," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Moonlight Swim" and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" have caught peoples' hearts.

After half a century, the state of Hawaii still maintains the same picturesque scenery.#

Italian Actresses in Hollywood

2009-01-04T18:02:00.017+09:00

I have several favorite movie actresses, and three of them happened to be Italian who made the world debut in American films.

They are:
1) Rossana Podesta (1934 ~ )
She is best known for her role as Helen in the 1955 movie "Helen of Troy." She appeared in several Hollywood films, but she never gained the popularity in the U.S. However, she was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world in those days. She was also in the 1955 "Ulusses" with Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, the 1956 "Santiago" with Alan Ladd, the 1963 "The Virgin of Nuremberg" with Christopher Lee, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore, and so forth.

2) Sylva Koscina (1933 ~ 1994)
She appeared in a lot of American films, including the 1957 movie "Hercules" with Steve Reeves, the 1959 "Uncle was a Vampire" with Christopher Lee, the 1962 "Jessica" with Angie Dickinson, the 1962 "Swordsman of Siena" with Stewart Granger, the 1968 "The Secret War of Harry Frigg" with Paul Newman, the 1968 "A Lovely Way to Die" with Kirk Douglas, the 1968 & 69 "Kampf um Rom I & II" with Laurence Harvey and Orson Welles, the 1969 "Bitka na Neretvi" with Yul Bryner, the 1970 "Hornet's Nest" with Rock Hudson, the 1980 "Sunday Lovers" with Roger Moore and Rossana Podesta, and others.

3) Francesca Rettondini (1971 ~ )
Her first American screen role was as the Italian singer in the 2002 movie "Ghost Ship," directed by Steve Beck. However, her opening song of the movie called "Senza Fine" is actually sung by Monica Mancini, a daughter of famed film composer Henrry Mancini. The song is an old Italian pop and also sung by Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Connie Francis in 1960's.

Rossana, Sylva and Francesca have a lot in common - "glamorous and mysterious." Francesca's Website would prove it.

By the way, Rossana and Sylva kindly sent me their pictures with autograph in 1962 when I was a junior high school student, and those are still my precious things.#

remake

2008-11-15T22:22:00.006+09:00

There are two types of remake.
1) from foreign to domestic movies, and vice versa
2) domestic remake

It may be OK for the young generation and the people who don't know the original versions, but I think it is very rare for a new comer to prevail the original one.

Because I already know the story and I cannot help comparing it with the first one which usually gives a great impact.

I'm pretty sure that some moviegoers would agree with me.

However, there are two exceptional cases.
1) from "Seven Samurai" (Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film) to "The Magnificient Seven" (John Sturges' 1960 film) [I don't know anything about "The Magnificient Seven" by Christopher Cain in 1998.]
2) "Charlie's Angeles" in 1976 and 2000

As for #1, their backgrounds are entirely different and leading parts of these movies are played by character actors. And the both movies are marvelous.

Concerning #2, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Kate Jackson, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu are all beautiful and charming ladies, not to mention their great acting.#

motion pictures relating to Christianity

2008-10-27T22:09:00.007+09:00

I became a member of the Congregational church about 20 years ago.

In the first year, I was hooked on going to church.

And at the same time, I purchased a dozen of Christian books - the Old Testament, the New Testament, manuals and others in English and Japanese languages.

I didn't realize how deeply the U.S. society has been built up in the briefs.

There were many expressions and situations I never understood in Hollywood movies, and later I found out that they had someting to do with Christianity.

"THANK GOD," I'm now comfortable with Christian movies.#

two American heroes in WW II

2008-10-27T01:32:00.005+09:00

I would like to touch on two famous American heroes in the World War II.

1.) Audie L. Murphy (1926-1971)

I loved war films and westerns in 1950's and 60's.

And one of my favorite movie stars in those films was Audie Murphy, who was most decorated American combat soldier during the war, and later became an actor appearing 44 Hollywood films including 33 westerns.

He played himself in the 1955 film version of his book with the same title, "To Hell and Back," which was a great hit in the industry.

When I visited the Pentagon under a training of the U.S. State Department in 2006, I found his name engraved among all veterans in the past wars at a memorial hall, just next to the America's Heroes Memorial - the site where 184 people killed in the building on September 11.

I was very moved by the way that the U.S. Department of Defense respects and honors the people fought for the country, including victims of the 9/11 terrorism.

2.) Daniel K. Inouye (1924- )

Mr. Inouye is known as the U.S. Senator from Hawaii for over forty-five years.

He was assigned to the "Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team," which became the most high-decorated unit in the history of the U.S. Army.

The story of the combat team was picked up by some Hollywood films.

Ten years ago, I had a chance to accompany Senator Inouye for two days in Hiroshima, Japan, where his parents came from.

He was warm, gentle and straightforward.

And I still remember well that at the airport I shook hands with him, but with his "left" hand as he lost his right arm during the war. #

Sessue

2008-10-25T22:04:00.009+09:00

My American college classmates used to talk about how great Sessue was in the U.S.

I thought it was "Sesshu" (1420-1506) who was a great ink painter in the 14th century.

But later, I found out that it was "Sessue" Hayakawa (1889-1973) who was an Academy Award-nominated Japanese actor who mainly starred in the U.S. and France.

He was well known as an actor like Charlien Chaplin between the mid-1910's and the late 1920's and became the top Hollywood star when he appeared in the film "The Cheat."

But for us, he is best known in the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai" which won the 1957 Academy Award for Best Picture.

Anyway, Sessue always reminds me of Toshiro Mifune, because of their common points - they were very handsome with exotic features, and yet they were real Japanese, Samurai-type man.#

Kyoto and motion pictures

2008-10-24T03:06:00.004+09:00

It is not widely known that in Japan the very first movie was shown and the first movie was shot in Kyoto City.

A Kyoto businessman, who studied with French inventors of cinematograph in France, brought back movie outfit with an engineer and showed a film in the town in 1897.

And the French engineer filmed the businessman's dining with his family.

Since then, most of the feature films were shot in Kyoto because of abundance of "natural set" (300 shrines and 1500 temples) for Samurai movie.

Shozo Makino, known as the father of Japanese motion pictures, also came to the town and continued to shoot films.

Nikkatsu, the first major movie company, was established in 1912; followed by Shochiku, Toho and Daiei; and later, in 1951, Toei.

The Japanese movies by Daiei Kyoto, such as "Rashomon," "Ugetsu Monogatari" and "Jigokumon," were highlighted in the world in early 1950s when they were awarded at international film festivals.

The peak of Japanese cinema was 1958, and then, many movie companies shifted the story from Samurai to Yakuza/gangster.

And they were successful in 1960s and 70s.

Since 1980's, the movie industry has been sharply declining.

In order for the business to revive, new themes should be found and new creation should be made.

Maybe, back to the basis, in Kyoto!#

"Last Samurai" at a Himeji temple

2008-10-23T05:02:00.003+09:00

Several scenes of "The Last Samurai," film version of Helen DeWitt's novel, were shot at Engyoji Temple in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture.

When one of the U.S. 7th Fleet ships visited Himeji port few years ago, I took about four dozens of sailors including the captain to Shoshazan-Engyoji Temple located in the northern part of the city.

They all knew the movie and leaped for joy when they saw the actual location where Tom Cruise took his actions.

As for me, I hadn't expected much about the temple, because I've seen many of them in Kyoto.

But it struck me a lot as it was quite mysterious - buildings and location.

The temple was not well-known among the people, but it became one of the sightseeing spots of Himeji, and I would highly recommend your visit.#

television westerns

2008-10-23T03:28:00.007+09:00

From the mid-1950s through the mid-'60s (even the mid-'70s), westerns like "Gunsmoke," "Cheyenne," "Wagon Train," "Maverick," "The Rifleman," "Bonanza" and "Rawhide" dominated both American and Japanese television.

"Gunsmoke" lasted for 20 years and "Bonanza" for 14, but the most popular TV western series in Japan was "Laramie" in those days.

It wasn't so popular among the American viewers, but Robert Fuller and John Smith, the actors of "Laramie," became superstars in Japan.

Robert Fuller came to Japan for a TV appearance and was greeted by few thousands of the people at the airport.

Most of the TV series have ended up in Boot Hill in the 1990s, and baby boomers like me grew up watching in fictional form of the western in movies and on television.#

Note:
Gunsmoke (1955-75) starring James Arness
Cheyenne (1955-63) starring Clint Walker
Wagon Train (1957-65)
Maverick (1957-62) starring James Garner
The Rifleman (1958-63) starring Chuck Connors
Bonanza (1959-73) starring Lorne Greene and Michael Landon
Rawhide (1959-66) starring Clint Eastwood and Eric Fleming
Laramie (1959-63) starring Robert Fuller and John Smith

Nancy Umeki

2008-10-20T12:35:00.002+09:00

In the 80-year history of the Academy Awards, a dozen of the Oscars were given to the Japanese and their works.

But there is only one Japan-born actress who won an Oscar in the category of best performance - that is, Miyoshi Umeki known as "Nancy" Umeki.

In "Sayonara," the 1957 film version of James A. Michener's best-selling novel, she teamed up with Red Buttons, who was a TV comedian and also won an Oscar for his supporting role, in a tragic subplot about a US serviceman and local woman who fall in love in post-World War II Japan.

I've seen the movie several times in late 1950' and early 60's, and I used to mention her name every time I talked about American movies with my friends.

I didn't know that she was a singer in Japan, but she played in Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1958 musical "Flower Drum Song" in the US.

In September 2007 she died of cancer at the age of 78.

Japan lost another treasure.#

"Black Rain" in Osaka

2008-10-17T21:57:00.005+09:00

One day in 1988, Alan Poul, an associate producer of the movie "Black Rain," starring Michael Douglas, dropped in the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe.

He was looking for possible locations for the Ridley Scott's new film.

One night we went for a drink at Kitashinchi in Osaka City where there were hundreds of expensive bars, night clubs and restaurants.

And he confessed that filming the movie in the town was still pending because of the high cost of living and the selection of the Japanese actors was under consideration.

A month later, he called me over the phone and said that the movie would be shot in Osaka and asked me for arrangement of interpreters for a 120-person group from America.

Later I went to a press conference of the film at Hilton Osaka... Besides Michael Douglas there were three famous Japanese actors - Ken Takakura, Tomisaburo Wakayama and Yusaku Matsuda.

There were over 300 reporters, but nobody paid any attention to Andy Garcia who was a new face then.

I don't remember at all what the people on the stage said, but Garcia said that he drove a used car and could buy a brand-new car because of a role of the picture.

He is now one of the top Hollywood stars, and maybe I could see he was shining then.#

Mako

2008-10-17T15:28:00.003+09:00

Mako Iwamatsu, known as "Mako" in Hollywood, came to Kyoto for a small get-together in September 2001 - right after he appeared as Admiral Yamamoto in the movie "Pearl Harbor" and five years before he passed away.

I had known him by name for over forty years since he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1966 film "The Sand Pebbles."

He was also known for his role as the Wizard opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, the incumbent California governor, in the two movies "Conan the Barbarian" and "Conan the Destroyer," and for other movies such as "Tora, Tora, Tora," "Silence," "Robocop III," "Rising Sun," "Seven Years in Tibet," "Sayuri" and so forth.

His appearance was against my expectations, as he was in everyday clothes and looked like one of uncles.

And he was very frank and straightforward.

Anyhow, Mr. Mako said in his speech that he didn't see "Pearl Harbor," because he didn't like the way the director represented Japanese military during the World War II.

(As I mentioned in my earlier blog, there are bias or prejudice among American movie-makers toward Japan and the Japanese.)

Mako argued, but he couldn't reverse director's decision.

(I've heard the same story from Toshiro Mifune - when he appeared in American films.)

Mako is STILL the best known Japanese-American actor in the U.S., and we can find his name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood Boulevard.#

Sunset Boulevard

2008-10-15T04:30:00.002+09:00

My favorite daily life in school days in Beverly Hills was driving between the both ends of Sunset Boulevard.

If the street was congested, I always took Hollywood Boulevard instead.

In late 1960's, there was no "star address map."

I knew it was lowbrow, but I was young and interested in looking for famous stars' houses in my used sports cars, either Mustang or UK's Sunbeam.

There were also many interesting and strange shops along the streets.

I have no idea what the Sunset looks like now.#

criticism about "Sayuri"

2008-10-15T04:22:00.002+09:00

Many Japanese don't like the American film "Sayuri" as they think the most of the scenes are NOT real Japan.

I strongly object to their criticism.

Because every country in the world has its own images and preoccupation toward foreign countries.

Hollywood is also not an exception.

I agree that many scenes in that picture are like Chinese.

But it's OK, because it's mainly for viewers in the world as well as American audience - not targetting Japan.

"Real Japan" is not always Japan for them!#

open TV programs

2008-10-15T04:14:00.002+09:00

It is quite interesting to visit a TV studio and watch a live show.

You could enjoy atmosphere of the studio - main and back stages, expressions of the host and guests, the interchange between control room and floor, and so forth.

And also, it might change your image when you watch any TV program - from the viewpoint of program-making.

I highly recommend you to visit either American or Japanese TV station to watch a show.

Oh, that's fun!#

silent films

2008-10-15T04:00:00.003+09:00

When I lived in Los Angeles, a man who lived next door to my room at an apartment house used to take me to the Silent Movie Theater near Hollywood.

I was not interested in silent films except Charlie Chaplin, but the mid-30's businessman wanted to have a company.

At the theater, I saw over three dozens of 1910's, 20's and 30's silent movies by Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Sessue Hayakawa, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy and many many beautiful actresses.

I especially enjoyed the motion pictures such as "The Birth of a Nation (1915)," "Intolerance (1916)," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)" and "Ben-Hur (1925)."

Contrary to my expectations, their actions and expressions without sound were very instructive for me as drama student.

After many many years I am still grateful to him.#

screen music in TV

2008-10-15T03:52:00.002+09:00

In recent days, famous screen musics back in 1950's, 60's and 70's have been used in current Japanese TV dramas and commercial films.

It is OK for the young generation who don't know them - music and film.

But for my generation it often throws a wet blanket as a music strongly portrays the screen images.

And it ruins a current drama or a commercial film.

Is it because easier and cheaer to use it?

Come on, we have many many talented people who can create new music!

Be bound for tomorrow!#

DVD vs. movie theater

2008-10-15T03:38:00.002+09:00

I have seen a lot of DVD movies lately in order to save my time and money.

But unfortunately I cannot have a strong inclination toward a movie story and hardly remember most of them.

Why is this?

Many films I remembered were from a jambo screen of movie theater... and an atmosphere with darkness, loudness and smell.

The advent of new technology as DVD should have something that would move one's feeling.

It might be done by another inventions in the near future.

But I would rather think that it is an example of warning to the human race.

"Slowing life" - such as going to a movie theater and spending more spare time - would give us real pleasure and happiness in our life, I do believe.#

foreign TV talents in Japan

2008-10-15T03:18:00.004+09:00

Japanese TV stations often look for and use Japanese-speaking foreign TV personalities who are mostly unknown in their home countries, and yet "represent" their countries, amuse viewers with their exotic looks and act like silly foreigners.

It is said that putting a foreign face on TV gives viewers the impression of getting the "international view," but the stars rarely say anything controversial.

The people at the TV stations want to use foreign figures... for information, and at the same time, to be able to laugh at them a bit.

It does not matter whether the TV program is serious news analysis, talk or quiz shows.

My American bosses and colleague at the Embassy and consulates often asked me how they could appear in a Japanese TV program.

I always aked them back, "Are youy willing to be a fool!?"

They said, "No way!"#

Toshiro Mifune - Episode 3

2008-10-15T03:08:00.002+09:00

It was when I was translating a letter from Terence Young, a famous Hollywood movie director, addressed to Mr. Mifune.

I came across a number in the letter, and it said "two million dollars."

In 1970, an average monthly salary of an employee in Japan was something like 80,000 yen (about 800 U.S. dollars).

I looked into English dictionary again and again, because I could not believe that the amount was for one film appearance.

Maybe, it was natural as Mifune appeared in the films "Red Sun" with Alain Delon and Charles Bronson in 1971, "Hell in Pacific" with Lee Marvin in 1968, and so forth.

Anyhow, it was my cultural shock about American motion pictures business.#

Toshiro Mifune - Episode 2

2008-10-15T02:59:00.002+09:00

I was asked by Mr. Mifune to act as interpreter for a dinner-meeting with three Hollywood film makers at his home in Seijo, Tokyo.

It was a group of six - the three Americans, Mifune, a managing director of the Mifune Film Production and me.

Mrs. Mifune, his first wife, was serving the dinner. (By the way, as far as I knew, that time he had three mistresses including his second wife.)

The main dish was a huge amount of expensive grilled beef, maybe enough for 10-20 people, sent by air from Hokkaido, the northern part of Japan, on the day.

I saw it with my own eyes that top star's hospitality for foreign guests looked like.#

Toshiro Mifune - Episode 1

2008-10-15T02:43:00.002+09:00

During a lunch break of the film making of a TV Samurai series, I happened to be with my car Ford Mustang 1967 Fastback which I brought back from L.A. and was the same model that Steve McQueen used in his film called "Bullitt (1968)."

Mr. Toshiro Mifune, my boss, came to me and said, "Why don't you change it with my car Jaguar?"

Of course, UK's Jaguar was much expensive, but I really thought that I had to change it.

He was wearing Samurai kimono and wig with swords and he looked very serious.

Fortunately I found it out that was his joke.

Thank God!#

Toshiro Mifune as my lifesaver

2008-10-15T02:26:00.004+09:00

In October 1970, when I came back from the U.S. to Japan and I did not have a job, I dared to call Toshiro Mifune who was the top movie star in Japan and had his own film production in Tokyo.

The reason why I called him was that I was "only" one of his movie fans.

My classmates at Los Angeles City College knew the names of Mifune, Sessue and Aoki as the Japanese figures. (Sessue Hayakawa was the top Hollywood movie star before the World War II and Rocky Aoki was a restaurant tycoon in the U.S.)

The name of Mifune reminded me and stirred me to get in touch with him.

Mr. Mifune kindly spared his precious time for me at his office, and right after several minutes he gave me a job right there.

Next day, I became an assistant director and English interpreter for him.

I could not believe that he became my big boss and I could work with him every day.

I still thank and respect Mr. Mifune as he changed my life.#

actor and actress

2008-10-15T02:12:00.003+09:00

Everybody knows that Japanese motion picture industry has been declining due to Hollywood-oriented goer, poor scenario and investment, advent of new media including Internet and cell phone, and others for long time.

In order to get instant and short-term profit, many film productions use famous young TV figures including singers to attract only "new" audience, that is, the young generation.

They are not professional actors and actresses, and their movies often end in failure.

It should leave up to professional people who could portray the story much better, since the base of the motion picture is to give pleasure, comfort and dream to the viewers.

I would like to see new challenge by the Japanese industry.

The challenge should be started with exploitation of playwrite, and drastic reform of the movie-making people and the system.#

computer graphics of motion pictures

2008-10-14T22:54:00.002+09:00

We see lots of gimmicks in recent films and TV programs - manipulated image of scene.

I think it is OK to use computer graphics if it has something to do with science fiction and something we cannot get a certain image in reality.

However, frequent use of CGs for a movie drawing our everyday life such as detective, love and school stories, it would destroy viewer's position in the story.

Because it never happen in our daily life.

I hope Hollywood would not too much lean to that direction, and producers and directors should go back to the basis of film making for real movie lovers.#