It's been awhile since I've written about a John Wayne movie on here, with the last one being The Cowboy's back in February. I figured it's time to show 'The Duke' some love, and with that, today's movie is 1958's The Barbarian and the Geisha. This is often regarded as one of the lesser John Wayne films. Sure, it isn't True Grit, or The Searchers, or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, or Rio Bravo, but I think it's a perfectly fine movie.
Set in the 1850's, the films plot is about an American named Townsend Harris (played by Wayne) who has been sent to be the first American Consul General to Japan. As typical in films like this, the Japanese don't initially accept Harris' credentials and largely refuse to help him. However, after he builds a relationship with a Geisha, learns more about Japanese culture, and helps rid the village of a cholera outbreak, they have a change of heart and escort him to Edo to meet with the Shogun.
Obviously, this is one of those films that was a bit outside of John Wayne's comfort zone, and it shows. Ironically, even though I think he was miscast, I only own this one because it is a John Wayne movie. The story is somewhat interesting but, this is one of those films that drags a bit in some spots and feels a lot longer than it's 1hr 45min runtime. I don't think it's a 'bad' movie but, if you're looking to watch one of the many films Wayne starred in, this isn't the first one I would recommend.
2 out of 5
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