Machiko Kyô

Cast

“This has been my first experience in American films (The Teahouse of the August Moon) and I am feeling rather in love with the work. Imagine! When I do well the director kisses me, shakes my hand.”

Biography

Brought to films in 1949 on the strength of her beauty and dancing skills, Machiko Kyo unexpectedly proved to be an actress of unusual power and intensity. Only 18 years old when she burst onto the international film scene as the humiliated wife in Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1953), she followed this triumph with such roles as the ghostly Lady Wakara in Kurosawa’s Ugetsu (1954) and the much-desired Lady Kesa in Teinosuke Kinusaga’s Gate of Hell (1954). In 1955, she essayed the title role in Princess Yang Kwei Fei, one of her several collaborations with director Kenji Mizoguchi. Her English-language film debut came in 1956, when she was cast opposite Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford in the Okinawa-based Teahouse of the August Moon. Retiring from films in 1976, Machiko Kyo made one last screen appearance in 1985’s Kesho. —allmovie guide

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Howard Orr

31Dec11

What other actor/actress in the world can claim to have worked with four of the world's greatest directors in some of their finest works? "Ugetsu", "Street Of Shame", "Rashomon", "Floating Weeds", "Older Brother, Younger Sister". And that's before you get onto her work with other, also very talented directors. Amazing. (And she was hot.)

trolley freak

1Sep11

One of the great stars from Japan's Golden Age of moviemaking. She holds the distinction of being the only actor I can think of who starred in films by all 6 of my favourite Japanese directors - Ozu, Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Ichikawa, Naruse and Masumura. Not only that, she starred in the first Best Foreign Film Oscar winner (Gate of Hell) and also appeared in a 60's New Wave classic (The Face Of Another). She even found time to go to Hollywood to appear alongside Marlon Brando! A legend...