Adapted from the best-selling novel by Ronald Kirkbride of the same name, 1962's A Girl Named Tamiko touches on the then taboo subject of interracial romance. In this situation, it happens to be between a Japanese woman and a mixed-race white man. While taking into account the sensibilities and cautiousness of sixties movie studios, A Girl Named Tamiko was very ahead of it's time in dealing with racial intolerance in both Western and Japanese culture. Whereas I found the more heralded film Sayonara slightly condescending in its handling of the subject of race, A Girl Named Tamiko, in my opinion comes across more honestly. Another interesting note, this film sets the Japanese girl on the higher social level of than her white lover. In other films from this era dealing with interracial romance, it's usually the ethnic girl (Asian, Latina, Black) who is "moving up the ladder" by winning her white lover. It was a pleasant surprise to see that role reversed in this film.
Set in 1960s Japan, Eurasian photographer Ivan Kalin (the underrated British actor Laurence Harvey) lives life with a chip on his shoulder concerning his Japanese hosts. His disdain stems from the fact that both his mother and father were killed due to Japanese military aggression. Ivan sees their culture as cold, structured and racist and is convinced there is no room for success there for a foreigner, despite his talents. Seeing the United States as a better opportunity for him to become successful, Ivan becomes a "user" and there seems to be no end to the people he will use to get what he wants including those closest to him.
While at a nightclub, Ivan's life is changes forever when he meets a beautiful, intelligent Japanese girl named Tamiko (played by the enchantingly beautiful and unsung France Nuyen). Simultaneously, he rekindles an affair with vivacious, and influential Fay Wilson (all-time favorite bad girl beauty Martha Hyer). While obviously attracted to Tamiko, Ivan nevertheless sees Fay and her connections as his "free ticket" to the United States. With fame and fortune within his grasp, Ivan abandons the matters of the heart and pursues Fay until he has her in the palm of his hand. However, Ivan can't stop thinking about Tamiko, who in herself is the epitome of Japanese culture, everything which he despises. However, in Tamiko, Ivan sees the purity, and spiritual essence of Japanese culture stripped of its rigid structure and caste system. Tamiko, herself having lost her parents during the war, understands Ivan's hurt and anger against her people. Of course their path to romance is blocked not only by Ivan's selfish affair with Fay but also by Tamiko's brother Minya (played by great character actor John Fujioka). With his sister contracted into an arranged marriage with a Japanese of nobility, Minya forbids Tamiko to even be seen in public with Ivan. Nevertheless, the attraction is too strong and not even the rigidness of racism and social barriers can keep them apart.
While made in the melodramatic style of early 1960s Hollywood films such as The Best of Everything and Peyton Place, A Girl Named Tamiko manages to be a touching, honest and romantic journey into cultural differences, prejudices and intolerance. The performances by the two leads Nuyen and Harvey are both engaging and believable. Neither attempts to force an emotional response, rather they allow their budding romance to blossom into a simmer leaving only the censors to keep it from boiling over into something more "steamier."
The film was directed by John Sturges whose string of action-Western hits (The Magnificent Seven, Bad Day at Black Rock and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral), kind of made him the James Cameron of his time. Unfortunately, A Girl Named Tamiko was not a box office success when it was released. However, in watching this film, this doesn't appear to be the result of Sturges inability to handle softer material. In fact I feel it's just the opposite. Sturges effectively balances the sensitivities and delicacies of this "controversial" material without wimping out when it came to showcasing the prejudices of both Asian and Western cultures towards one another. His actors seem relaxed and at ease with the material, which is reflected in the steady, yet understated performances.
