Review of Navy Wife

Navy Wife (1956)
5/10
The Women Conquer
11 February 2024
Commander Gary Merrill has been transferred to the Japanese town, and wife Joan Bennett and daughter Judy Nugent soon follow. Miss Bennett tries to figure out how to get along with the locals, while Miss Nugent tries to find a group of boys that will let her play on their baseball team. Meanwhile, Merrill has the piddling task of setting up a democratic local government while his commanding officer just wants a quiet life.

Soon enough, Miss Bennett is confronted that Japan is a man's country, and she doesn't like that. Following her example, neither do the women she encounters and who so admire her. Is this a revolution or what?

It's one of several A movies of the period in which Americans encounter local Japanese culture. Unlike some, producer Walter Wanger didn't hire Marlon Brando and stick him in yellowface. He hired Japanese talent, most notably Shirley Yamaguchi and Teru Shimada. Director Edward Bernds has a fairly basic understanding of comedy, but he does manage a few scenes which made me chuckle.
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