Review of A Majority of One (1961) by Dirk S — 06 Jun 2008

I managed to stumble across this movie being aired on TV once again yesterday. Having seen it once before, I couldn't help but sit down and watch it again. It is an outstanding movie, portraying the cultural variations between the US and Japan following WWII.

Sir Alec Guinness and Rosalind Russell bring a warmth and true depth of character which only comes from life experience. I particularly found the mix of Japanese culture with Jewish culture to be very appropos, and indeed the ability of Mr Jacoby to identify with the cultural traditions of the Japanese, seemed to stem from an understanding of her own ancestral culture.

Some of the minor acting roles are not as good, but then they are more on the periphery, and don't really detract all that much from the main story and the characters of Mr Asano and Mrs Jacoby. Look out for the actress whom voiced Betty Boop as Mrs Jacobys' rather less than accepting neighbour, and a young George Takai.