Joe Butterfly (1957)
5/10
Bet You Didn't Know Burgess Meredith Was Japanese
25 August 2019
With the American occupation of Japan, the staff of YANK magazine scrambles at the dictate of Colonel Fred Clark to get out a great issue quick, while trying to deal with roving magazine reporter Keenan Wynn. The non-commissioned staff, including George Nader, John Agar, Charles McGraw and photographer Audie Murphy -- who's supposed to have been busted and shipped back to the US -- use local Japanese fixer Joe Butterfly -- played by Burgess Meredith speaking Japanese Double Dutch -- set up in a mansion and try to work.

It's a service comedy from a play by Jack Ruge and Evan Wylie. One of the screenwriters was Marion Hargrove, but it hasn't aged particularly well, thanks to Meredith -- I suppose Sessue Hayakawa was busy trying to be a priest. Wynn gives his typically emphatic comedy performance, but McGraw is actively funny with his rough speaking voice and mug attitude. Overall, it's a tired effort from directed Jesse Hibbs, and the score is a bit controlling, but there are a few chuckles along the way.
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