Search - The Ugly American on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1963 DVD Release: 08/12/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 1 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Drama, Political Drama, Message Movie

Taken from a best-selling book, this is an uneven, politically tinged drama by George Englund that does not really follow the book that closely. Marlon Brando is Harrison Carter MacWhite, an ambassador to a Southeast Asian country that goes unnamed but stands in well for Vietnam. There is a growing movement against Yankee imperialism and the current government, increasing unrest, and other signs of a complex situation getting worse. At first the ambassador relies on past training and has his own facile explanations for the unfolding events. But as time goes by, he comes to learn that a revolutionary movement is not one-dimensional. Unfortunately, the film itself never adequately clarifies the events it depicts. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Marlon Brando - Harrison Carter MacWhite
Eiji Okada - Deong
Sandra Church - Marion MacWhite
Arthur Hill - Grainger
Pat Hingle - Homer Atkins

The Ugly American has been given a letterboxed transfer in its original widescreen aspect ratio which has also been enhanced for 16 x 9 playback on widescreen monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono; in addition to the original English-language soundtrack, there's an alternate dubbed French version, as well as optional subtitles in Spanish and French. No bonus material has been included. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide