ESCAPADE IN JAPAN

US, 1957, 93 minutes, Colour.
Teresa Wright, Cameron Mitchell, Jon Provost, Roger Nakagawa, Philip Ober.
Directed by Arthur Lubin.

Escapade in Japan is a film about children. However, in the background are some adult themes, especially a potential divorce. However, it is in the children that most audiences will take interest. The little boy is played by Jon Provost who appeared for many years in the television series Lassie. His Japanese counterpart is played by Roger Nakagawa (but this is his only credited role).

The parents of the young boy are played by Teresa Wright and Cameron Mitchell.

The film is interesting insofar as it was released twelve years after the end of World War Two. This is a very much more sympathetic portrait of Japan than was usually presented at this period. It is an attempt at morale boosting, collaboration between Japanese and Americans.

Teresa Wright and Cameron Mitchell portray a couple who are posted to work in Japan. Their young son is on a plane which crashes into the sea. However, he survives and is picked up by a fishing family and immediately becomes friends with their young son. The son hears his parents call the police and interprets this that his American friend will be put in jail. They then go on an escapade through Japan, using their wits quite credibly and covering quite a lot of ground even to Kyoto. People are compassionate along the way, especially a group of geishas. Their anxious parents continue to follow the train and are finally reunited with their son as are the Japanese fishing couple.

The film was made in Japan itself and presents the country quite attractively as well as making up for the animosity during World War Two.

(Clint Eastwood, uncredited, can be glimpsed as one of the pilots in the rescue planes that are sent out.)

1.A film of the 50s, entertaining, for children, for adults? Adult themes?

2.The plane, Japan, travelling through Japan? Colour? Musical score?

3.1957, the memories of World War Two, Japanese -American relationships?

4.Tony and his age, being put on the flight, reading his comic books, bearing up with the crash, drifting on the raft, the rescue by the family, eager to have some food, not being afraid, not being upset, Hiko as his friend, the language difficulties, Hiko and his English? The issue of the police and his thinking he would be put in prison?

5.The Japanese family, fishing, rescuing Tony, Hiko and his immediate friendship with Tony?

6.Tony’s parents, the information about their background, the affair, the potential divorce, at the party, the gossip, the news, the mother’s anxiety? Talking with her husband? Their following the route of the boys, with the Japanese couple, the American officials? The dramatic climax, the boys on the roof and the father rescuing them?

7.The officials, the pilots, the flight control, the rescue? The officials keeping in touch with the parents? The role of the Japanese police?

8.The adventures, the escapades, the bonds between the two boys, the older protecting the younger, their walking, riding, getting lifts, the flat tyre, getting food, the compassionate people feeding Hiko and his bringing the food to Tony, sleeping in the open, getting on the bus, going on the tour, Kyoto, meeting the geishas, their being fed by the geishas, going to the strip club, on the train, meeting the kindly American soldier? Fearing the police were chasing them, going onto the roof, the rescue?

9.The film from Tony’s point of view as a child, his mother being afraid, his not being afraid and enjoying everything, and the friendship with Hiko?

10.The happy ending – and the image of international relationships through the friendship of children?