The Ugly American

A sober, talky Cold War drama that builds quiet tension and ends on a note of rueful disillusionment.

Directed by

George Englund

Genres

Thriller, Drama

Starring

Marlon Brando, Eiji Okada, Sandra Church

Tagline

The most explosive adventure of our time!

Overview

An intelligent, articulate scholar, Harrison MacWhite, survives a hostile Senate confirmation hearing at the hands of conservatives to become ambassador to Sarkan, a southeast Asian country where civil war threatens a tense peace. Despite his knowledge, once he's there, MacWhite sees only a dichotomy between the U.S. and Communism. He can't accept that anti-American sentiment might be a longing for self-determination and nationalism. So, he breaks from his friend Deong, a local opposition leader, ignores a foreman's advice about slowing the building of a road, and tries to muscle ahead. What price must the country and his friends pay for him to get some sense?

How it feels

Earnest, tense, melancholic and satirical. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Politics, power, colonialism, betrayal

Content

Mild violence, gore and language. No sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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