Escapade in Japan is a 1957 American family adventure film.Variety film review; September 11, 1957.Harrison's Reports film review; September 14, 1957, page 147. It was directed by Arthur Lubin and starred Teresa Wright, Cameron Mitchell, Jon Provost and Roger Nakagawa.
It also featured an early (and uncredited) appearance of Clint Eastwood as a pilot.ESCAPADE IN JAPAN Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 25, Iss. 288, (Jan 1, 1958): 21.
Lubin said "I think that Escapade probably ranks in my own opinion as fine of a picture as The Phantom of the Opera" although it suffered at the box office because Universal refused to promote it.
Plot After his plane goes down, an American boy is rescued from the sea by a Japanese fisherman and his family. When police arrive in the village, the fisherman's son fears that they have done something wrong. He and the American boy go on the run. They meet interesting people and have many adventures, travelling across the country and eluding the police, who are searching for the American boy.
Cast Teresa Wright as Mary Saunders Cameron Mitchell as Richard Saunders Jon Provost as Tony Saunders Roger Nakagawa as Asahiko Tanaka Philip Ober as Col. Hargrave Kuniko Miyake as Michiko Tanaka Susumu Fujita as Kei Tanaka Katsuhiko Haida as Capt. Hibino Tatsuo Saito as Mr. Fushimi Hideko Koshikawa as Dekko Ureo Egawa as Chief of Kyoto police Frank Tokunaga as farmer Clint Eastwood as pilot Mila del Sol
Production The film was announced in May 1956 by RKO, who were expanding their operations.Looking at Hollywood: Jockey Pearson Is Melville Pal in Whaling Movie Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune7 May 1956: d8. In June, RKO president William Dozier assigned the project to Arthur Lubin to produce and direct. Lubin had just signed a contract with the studio following The First Travelling Saleslady. He left for Tokyo and filming began 1 October.Drama: Third Cagney Subject Developed by Writer; Stevens Slates 'Feud' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 June 1956: 23.
Roger Nagawara was discovered in the American School in Japan.Angeli, Newman May Be Reteamed; Japanese Boy Gets Stellar Role Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Aug 1956: B9 Jonn Provost was cast as the American boy.
RKO executive Arthur Siteman died of a heart attack while making the film in Japan.Obituary 2 -- No Title New York Times (4 Oct 1956: 33.
Reception The Los Angeles Times described it as "a delightful tour through Japan."'Escapade in Japan' Interests Pictorially
G M W. Los Angeles Times 12 Dec 1957: B18. The New York Times said it was "simple but delightful."Boys Run Away With 'Escapade in Japan' New York Times 24 Dec 1957: 11.
See also List of American films of 1957
References
External links
Escapade in Japan at TCMDB
Escapade in Japan at BFI Escapade in Japan at Letterbox DVD