A Girl Named Tamiko Reviews

Set in Tokyo, Sturges's A GIRL NAMED TAMIKO seems a natural extension of his Japanese sympathies, which date to the murdered war hero in BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK and the debt paid to Akiro Kurosawa in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. Here, however, Sturges is away from the western ground on which he made his finest pictures. After photographer Harvey's parents are killed by the Japanese, he tries to get a visa for the States. His only chance is to have an American citizen petition on his behalf. He becomes friendly with US-embassy-employee Hyer, with whom he has an affair. Before he can leave, however, he falls in love with Nuyen, a Japanese girl from a traditional family. Against her parents' wishes Nuyen plans to wed Harvey, but he is still under the control of Hyer, his only ticket out. He gets the visa and leaves his Japanese lover--but before boarding the plane, he runs back to her.