Review of The Ugly American (1963) by Tonypolito — 23 Oct 2010

A 1963 message from Universal Studios intended to persuade a docile American public to take note of their own country's covert and simmering foreign policy that, soon enough, would create the debacle of the Vietnam War.

The film would serve well as a fictional primer for viewers who understand little as to how the War - and America's involvement in it - arose. America assigns a neophyte ambassador (Brando) to the fictitious Southeast Asian country of Sarkhan, largely due to his close ties to a national hero now spearheading insurgency (Okada).

Brando comes on like Wyatt Earp, alienating his own staff and Okada. Brando's shallow understanding of the political landscape leads to a series of poorly-conceived political gambits and disastrous outcomes that leaves Brando's tail between his legs, much as the Vietnam war did to America.

The Sarkhan storyline carries the notion of "thinly veiled reference" to lofty new heights, speaking of Communists in North Sarkhan and China aching to invade, Sarkhan's puppet government as installed by the Americans, the future U.S. intention to warmonger in Sarkhan, etc.

The film also contains reference to other CIA mischief, such as its cozy relationship with Batista's Cuba, well before the true nature of the CIA was widely recognized.

Overall, Brando's performance is worthy but not quite as dramatic as his better deliveries. Okada holds his own against such formidable company. One film highlight is a quite dramatic and intensely-dialoged intellectual joust between Brando and Okada regarding who's right and wrong about what's a-brewing.

How could have any adult in 1964 America actually believed entry into Vietnam was due to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident after the release of this film just the year prior?

Today, the film's major recommendations are the historical and contextual political commentary it provides - and its cinematographic glimpses of 1963 Thailand.