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      The Ugly American

      Released Apr 2, 1963 2 hr. 0 min. Drama Adventure List
      67% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 70% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score American ambassador Harrison MacWhite (Marlon Brando) travels to a Southeast Asian country on a peacekeeping mission. Torn between rival factions, the turbulent nation is on the brink of civil war. But MacWhite's powers of analysis allow him to view the political situation only in the simplest terms: as a struggle between communism and democracy. And, by the time the ambassador is finally able to see the political upheaval as a something more complicated, it may already be too late. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      James B As an Iranian American who was witness to American miscalculations and shortsightedness that led to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this movie resonated with me. Sad to see this kind of meddling in other countries affairs has not changed since this movie was made over 60 years ago. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/18/24 Full Review SICKS6SIX Only 67% from the red round fruity people and 70% from us mere mortals, Brando's performance isn't Oscar winning (is it, did he) but it's the best out of all the actors, no one turns in a dud, but the film is a bit stereotypical of the times, Brando was a target by the warren committee on anti-American activities and this film shows why he was albeit in reverse order, warren came before this film, it's definitely a good way of spending an afternoon in a darkened room instead of getting skin cancer in this unusually hot day we are having, Especially if like me, you think Brando is better when he is bad than most are when they are good. I give it a solid 8/10. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/16/22 Full Review Audience Member (Ext. Piccadilly Circus) Krishna: (pulls down short skirt/to group of lads walking by catcalling) Oi yourself! RADA: What are you wearing? Krishna: Your underwear, remember? RADA: Good heavens. This is how you play me? Krishna: (does twirl) It's good, right? And you're looking quite dashing! RADA: (loosens necktie) Quite. Visiting again? Krishna: Yes. RADA: What do you think of the place now? Krishna: A bit overrated considering you've advertised US as a gaping a$$hole. RADA: You did leave our Union. Krishna: Nonsense. Just look at my tongue. (sticks out tongue to show it's pierced) RADA: How do you play your flute with that thing? Krishna: Carefully. I doubt this wormhole will last. RADA: (they walk through Circus) How long are you staying? Krishna: Not long. RADA: (sighs) Krishna: My tongue is always here. The whole canon of American Literature is stuck solely with you, RADA. RADA: That doesn't seem like American Literature. Krishna: It's not, and that's what they teach at American Universities (exasperated) You! As far as our Union being over- RADA: (looks away) Krishna: I am getting a degree in our Union. RADA: Nonsense. Krishna: Do you think I read any T.S. Eliot before I went to University? RADA: You certainly had the memory for "Cats". Krishna: Don't you bring "Cats" into this... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member When Brando leaves the screen the movie falls into nothing special. And if he wasn't there we wouldn't be watching this movie at all. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member I know it's often unfair to compare films to the books they're based off of, but in this film a comparison is inevitable; the book's series of thought-provoking illustrative vignettes about America's diplomatic failures and successes in southeast Asia is replaced with a dialogue-heavy melodrama that takes forever to go anywhere (and the combination of Eiji Okada's accent and Marlon Brando's mumbling makes the dialogue painful to sit through). Important aspects of the book, like how embassy staffer Joe Bing's obnoxious and loud mannerisms often alienate many Asians, or how Homer and Emma Atkins' small-scale local projects are much more effective in both improving the lives of villagers and America's image in their eyes, are only glimpsed at. The film's greatest strength is its visuals, as its cinematography is quite competent if unspectacular. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review steve d Works well because of Brando. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Marlene Matouk Tampa Bay Times For those who enjoyed the book, this movie will be a big disappointment. For those who didn't read the book, well, you might enjoy it. Jan 13, 2021 Full Review Andrew L. Urban Urban Cinefile Brando is excellent, as is Okada (notwithstanding his Japanese ethnicity) as the two old friends find themselves on opposing political sides - both right, both wrong Dec 20, 2008 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Too talky, conventional, vague and ponderous. Rated: C+ May 11, 2007 Full Review Lori Hoffman Atlantic City Weekly Rated: 3/5 Aug 17, 2006 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 30, 2005 Full Review John Esther Pasadena Weekly Rated: 3/5 Aug 22, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis American ambassador Harrison MacWhite (Marlon Brando) travels to a Southeast Asian country on a peacekeeping mission. Torn between rival factions, the turbulent nation is on the brink of civil war. But MacWhite's powers of analysis allow him to view the political situation only in the simplest terms: as a struggle between communism and democracy. And, by the time the ambassador is finally able to see the political upheaval as a something more complicated, it may already be too late.
      Director
      George Englund
      Screenwriter
      William J. Lederer, Eugene Burdick, Stewart Stern
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      Universal International Pictures
      Genre
      Drama, Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 2, 1963, Wide
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 31, 2005