During his career, the Hawaiian born Nisei actor James Shigeta was cast as everything but a Hawaiian born Japanese American. Among others, he played Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan characters. Depending on the time frame of a given film, i.e. if it was set around World War II or not, he played either a villain or a hero. One of the movies he portrayed a hero in was Samuel Fuller’s Crimson Kimono (1959). This movie could be characterized as an urban crime story and an interracial love triangle, but it is also one of the first multicultural films before the term “multiculturalism” was even coined. In Crimson Kimono, James Shigeta plays Detective Joe Kojaku, a police detective working for the L.A. homicide squad. His partner is a white American, Detective Sergeant Charlie Bancroft, played by Glenn Corbett. Joe and Charlie are both Korean War veterans. During the war, one of them saved the other’s life by donating blood, and since then, they have been friends. While working on a case – a stripper has been murdered – the detectives’ friendship is tested by a romantic triangle. First, Charlie gets involved with one of the main witnesses, a white female art student called Chris. But then, Joe, as well, falls in love with her. While Joe’s behavior changes to apathy in his friendship to Charlie, the situation turns into an identity crisis for him personally. Joe begins to interpret Charlie’s jealousy as racism and turns away from his friend. However, in the end, the friendship is restored with Charlie giving up Chris for his friend Joe, and the murder case is solved, too.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Crimson Kimono
- The Murder Case
- The Love Triangle
- The Friendship
- Identity Crisis
- Interracial Relationships in Film
- Interpretations
- Messages to White Americans
- Messages to Japanese Americans
- Stereotypes and Identity
- Breaking the Rules
- Socially Constructed Identity
- Overcoming Racism
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the film *Crimson Kimono* (1959) and its portrayal of an interracial love triangle between a Japanese American detective, a white American detective, and a white female art student. The essay explores the film's significance as a multicultural film that challenges traditional stereotypes and explores themes of racial tolerance, identity, and the impact of stereotypes on individual and societal perceptions.- Interracial Relationships in Film
- The Role of Stereotypes in Shaping Identity
- The Impact of Racism on Individual and Societal Perceptions
- The Significance of *Crimson Kimono* as a Multicultural Film
- The Evolution of Asian American Representation in Film
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by introducing the film *Crimson Kimono* and its protagonist, Detective Joe Kojaku, a Japanese American police detective. It discusses the film's setting within the context of the Cold War and its depiction of an interracial love triangle.The essay then delves into the main narrative elements of the film, focusing on the murder case and the romantic complications that arise between the three main characters. It examines the themes of friendship, identity, and the impact of racism on Joe's personal journey.
The essay further explores the broader implications of the film, analyzing its messages to both white American and Japanese American audiences. It discusses the film's challenge to racial segregation and its contribution to the changing representation of Asian Americans in film.
Finally, the essay delves into the complex interplay between stereotypes and identity, focusing on the internal conflict Joe faces as he challenges societal expectations. It examines how stereotypes can perpetuate racism and impact individual perceptions, highlighting the psychological scars of racism and its enduring influence on social dynamics.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this essay lies on the representation of Asian Americans in film, specifically exploring the themes of interracial relationships, racism, stereotypes, and identity. It analyzes the film *Crimson Kimono* as a significant example of multicultural cinema, examining its portrayal of a Japanese American detective and his journey through a racially charged environment. The essay also delves into the evolution of Asian American representation in film, highlighting the shift in stereotypes from the World War II era to the Cold War period, and the broader implications of this shift on societal perceptions.- Quote paper
- B.A. Stephanie Wössner (Author), 2003, The Crimson Kimono - A film review, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138118
