The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958): Cast & Plot
The Barbarian and the Geisha is a 1958 romantic drama directed by John Huston, starring John Wayne as Townsend Harris, Sam Jaffe and Sô Yamamura. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- John Huston
- Original language
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English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Barbarian and the Geisha About?
The premise of The Barbarian and the Geisha without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1855 Townsend Harris is dispatched by President Pierce as the United States’ first Consul‑General to Japan. Upon arriving he confronts fierce anti‑foreign sentiment, while a young geisha, assigned to win his affection, becomes his guide and lover, intertwining diplomacy with a forbidden romance.
The Barbarian and the Geisha Themes & Keywords
· 19 tags- american man abroad
- white man asian woman relationship
- 1850s
- japan
- edo japan
- japanese history
- intrigue
- united states of america
- tokyo japan
- shogun
- samurai
- japanese
+7 more Show fewer
- japanese woman
- asia
- 19th century
- 1950s
- archery
- xenophobia
- telescope
The Barbarian and the Geisha Cast & Characters
John Wayne leads the cast as Townsend Harris, with Sam Jaffe as Henry Heusken and Sô Yamamura as Governor Tamura. Directed by John Huston; 8 actors are credited in all.
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Director John Huston
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John Wayne as Townsend Harris - Sam Jaffe as Henry Heusken
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Sô Yamamura as Governor Tamura - Eiko Ando as Okichi
Also Starring in The Barbarian and the Geisha
· 4 more- Fuyukichi Maki
- Takeshi Kumagai
- Kodayu Ichikawa
- Ryuzo Demura Thug (uncredited)
More from John Huston
More films directed by John Huston: The Dead, Escape to Victory, Phobia and Independence.
The Barbarian and the Geisha Plot Summary
What happens in The Barbarian and the Geisha from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1856, Townsend Harris is sent by President Franklin Pierce to serve as the first U.S. Consul General to Japan, following Commodore Perry’s treaty two years earlier. He arrives with his translator-secretary, Henry Heusken, and three Chinese servants, landing ashore at Shimoda, the town designated in the treaty for the American consulate.
However, the Japanese governor Governor Tamura refuses to accept his credentials, denying him official status, due to conflicting interpretations of the treaty terms. Harris believes the Consul shall be present whenever either country requires, while Tamura believes the terms permit a consul only when both sides require. The governor’s stance is tied to the resentments over how the treaty was imposed and fears of foreign influence.
Full summary
The whole story of The Barbarian and the Geisha, scene by scene
The Barbarian and the Geisha Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Barbarian and the Geisha.
How Well Do You Know The Barbarian and the Geisha?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
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- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does the film’s story begin?
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Movies Like The Barbarian and the Geisha
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Barbarian, A Girl Named Tamiko and Time Barbarians.
The Barbarian and the Geisha FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Barbarian and the Geisha, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Barbarian and the Geisha?
The Barbarian and the Geisha runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was The Barbarian and the Geisha released?
The Barbarian and the Geisha was released on September 30, 1958.
Who directed The Barbarian and the Geisha?
The Barbarian and the Geisha was directed by John Huston.
More films by John Huston Who is in the cast of The Barbarian and the Geisha?
The Barbarian and the Geisha stars John Wayne as Townsend Harris, Sam Jaffe as Henry Heusken and Sô Yamamura as Governor Tamura, among 8 credited actors.
Does The Barbarian and the Geisha have a post-credit scene?
No. The Barbarian and the Geisha has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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