House of Bamboo

Introduction by Ian Buruma, Paul W. Williams Professor of Human Rights and Journalism, Bard College

A typically tough thriller by Samuel Fuller. Despite its traffic in Cinemascopic stereotype, House of Bamboo remains one of the best American films shot in Japan. In the words of the trailer, Shirley Yamaguchi plays a “geisha girl who gambled her life for a man.” This is a loose remake of The Street with No Name (1948), co-starring Robert Ryan, and Sessue Hayakawa. Robert Stack plays an undercover agent infiltrating a ruthless gang led by Ryan. Along the way, he falls in love with Yamaguchi. She lost a lover at the hands of the gang and quickly becomes Stack’s “kimono.” The spectacular scenery of a Tokyo poised between total war and the Olympics vie for attention from the noir-ish and fast-paced intrigue.

1955, 102 min., 35mm, color, in English and Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Samuel Fuller. With Shirley Yamaguchi, Robert Ryan, Robert Stack, Cameron Mitchell, Sessue Hayakawa.

Tickets:
$12/$9 Japan Society members, seniors & students
 
SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase tickets for at least 3 different films and receive $2 off each ticket when purchased together! Special offer available only Japan Society Box Office or by telephone at (212) 715-1258. Offer not available online.

Part of the 2015 Globus Film Series The Most Beautiful: The War Films of Shirley Yamaguchi & Setsuko Hara.

Stories from the War
Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, Japan Society presents the Society-wide series Stories from the War. Encompassing theater performances, film screenings, lectures, panels and educational opportunities for young people, programming from January to August explores history and considers challenging issues that the U.S. and Japan faced surrounding WWII through a contemporary lens.