The Teahouse of the August Moon

The Teahouse of the August Moon

Year: 1956

Runtime: 123 mins

Language: English

Director: Daniel Mann

ComedyCrude humor and satireAmusing jokes and witty satireGags jokes and slapstick humorFunny jokes and crude humor

All The Riotous Fun Of The Prize-Winning Stage Comedy! In post-WWII Japan, an American captain is brought in to help build a school, but the locals want a teahouse instead.

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Timeline & Setting – The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late 1940s

The action takes place during the American occupation of Okinawa after World War II, when the SCAP supervised reconstruction and political experimentation. The era is marked by a clash between military governance and local autonomy, as communities navigate new rules and opportunities. Humor and political nuance arise from this transitional period.

Location

Tobiki, Okinawa

Tobiki is a Ryukyuan village on the island of Okinawa, depicted amid postwar American influence. The setting highlights a traditional community facing rapid cultural and economic changes under the Allied occupation. Teahouses, crafts, and daily life form the heart of its social landscape.

🏯 Ryukyuan village 🗺️ Okinawa 🧭 Occupation era

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:45

Main Characters – The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)

Meet the key characters of The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Captain Fisby — Glenn Ford

An earnest, well-meaning captain sent to Americanize Tobiki. He pursues Western-style development but gradually embraces Okinawan customs, learning to balance authority with empathy. His growth stems from listening to locals and finding humor in cultural missteps.

🎖️ Military 🧭 Cultural clash 🌟 Adaptability

Sakini — Marlon Brando

A wily, worldly interpreter who serves as the bridge between American officials and Okinawan life. He uses humor and practical insight to steer Fisby through cultural traps. Sakini embodies the clever intermediary who can navigate both sides.

🎭 Entertainer 🗺️ Interpreter 🧭 Bridge

Lotus Blossom — Machiko Kyō

A young geisha who helps humanize the cultural exchange and anchors the villagers’ response to American plans. Her presence embodies Okinawan tradition and adds nuance to the evolving relationship with Fisby. She influences events around the teahouse and social life.

🌸 Geisha 🧭 Cultural liaison 🏯 Local tradition

Wainwright Purdy III — Paul Ford

The regimented commander who pushes to impose Western plans, including destroying structures like the teahouse when things go awry. He represents policy-driven governance and its blind spots. Over the course of the story, his actions are met with consequences that reveal limits of top-down control.

🎖️ Authority 🧭 Policy 💼 Bureaucracy

Captain McLean — Eddie Albert

A psychiatrist sent to inspect Tobiki who becomes sympathetic to organic farming and local life. He starts as a clinical observer but grows into a cooperative participant in the village’s development. His evolving stance mirrors the film’s theme of guided, rather than imposed, change.

🧠 Psychiatrist 🧭 Open-minded 🌾 Farming advocate

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:45

Major Themes – The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)

Explore the central themes of The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗾 Cultural Clash

An American captain and a local interpreter negotiate a village’s customs and social codes. Mismatches in language and priorities generate humor while exposing the friction between modernization and tradition. The dynamic shows how cultural adaptation becomes a shared, rather than imposed, process.

🗳️ Democracy in Practice

The village is used as a testbed for American-led democratization, challenging how political ideals translate into daily life. Officials wrestle with implementing policy while honoring local customs and needs. The narrative underscores that democracy requires empathy and understanding, not just instruction from above.

🏯 Tradition vs Modernization

Villagers prioritize the teahouse and traditional crafts over a Western-style school, highlighting a preference for cultural continuity. The tension between old and new shapes decisions and outcomes, showing that progress can be shaped by local values. Change is depicted as something the community can absorb and adapt to.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:45

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The Teahouse of the August Moon Summary

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The Teahouse of the August Moon Summary

The Teahouse of the August Moon Timeline

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The Teahouse of the August Moon Timeline

More About The Teahouse of the August Moon

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The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow