| re: Mickey Rooney is the most racist version of yellowface... | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 09:43 pm EST 02/18/21 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 09:37 pm EST 02/18/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Mickey Rooney is the most racist version of yellowface... - WaymanWong 08:03 pm EST 02/17/21 | |
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| I was in a cranky mood last night. When I read your post, it made me pretty angry, but I was tired out (shoveling snow a lot) and wisely decided to wait a day before responding. After shoveling more snow this afternoon, I re-read your post and then re-read my post to Singapore/Fling to see if I accidentally misspoke. Your post is entirely reasonable and respectful (although I don't agree with everything you say). However, I think I understand where you are coming from. My post is not a defense of Brynner's casting. I was 8 years old when my parents took me to see The King and I. The film blew me away. I loved the sumptuousness of it all, the beautiful music, and the performances. However, I was just a child and had no understanding of the casting process or any underlying racial issues. I just knew that I loved the film. I wasn't trying to defend the Hollywood system of casting white actors in non-white roles. I said that I didn't like the way the word racism is so casually thrown around on this board, but that I could not judge others unless I knew them personally. The OP had praised Brynner's portrayal, but said that he should have declined the role because the film was racist. I pointed out that actors like Adiarte and Yuriko Kikuchi had worked hard and earned the right to appear in the film. The entertainment business, but especially movie making in the 30's through the 50's, was one of crassest, unfair operations in this nation. It's purpose was to make money. Fairness, social engineering, and equal opportunity were not part of the program. The decision makers were a bunch of white guys or white Jewish guys. Asian actors, but especially southeast Asians, pretty much were not considered for lead roles in "A" pictures. Nevertheless, no one put a gun to any actor's head (regardless of race). Those who went into the business during those years were fools if they didn't know what they were up against. I don't know why IMDb describes Adiarte's role in M*A*S*H as a cabin boy. He actually played a soldier in the South Korean army who had been wounded and ended up being treated by Alda and Rogers. After he recovered, they assisted him from being re-conscripted. He became one of their scavengers (he was called a swampboy, I believe) -- he became highly adept at "lifting" equipment from other units to help out Alda and Rogers' medical operation. It was a small role, but a good opportunity for Adiarte to show his versatile acting skills. Anyway, that's my recollection. I was a big fan of the series (and, yeah, I had a huge boy-crush on Adiarte). |
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| Previous: | re: Mickey Rooney is the most racist version of yellowface... - WaymanWong 08:03 pm EST 02/17/21 |
| Next: | re: Mickey Rooney is the most racist version of yellowface... - larry13 09:35 pm EST 02/16/21 |
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