From the S&S archives: Hollywood, 'Townsend Harris' land in Japan

Hollywood has come to the fishing village of Kawana, Japan.

A 20th Century-Fox movie unit, headed by director John Huston, is on location in Kawana to film the life of Townsend Harris, America's first ambassador to Japan.

More than 300 men and women of the town have been signed to appear in the film as residents of the village of Shimoda, where Harris first landed in 1856.

The menfolk spend their nights fishing and then don samurai costumes the following morning for their roles in the CinemaScope picture.

Besides John Wayne, who appears as Townsend Harris, the cast includes veteran actor Sam Jaffe and Japan's So Yamamura, who took the Best Actor Award at the first Asian film festival in 1954. After completing the Kawana scenes, the company will move to Kyoto for further filming.

John Wayne, in costume as Townsend Harris in Kawana, Japan. Director John Huston, left. A young extra adjusts her old-fashioned hair style before a scene. John Huston directs a scene. John Wayne and Sam Jaffe come ashore. John Huston lines up a shot with Sam Jaffe and John Wayne. John Huston. Kawana villagers perform an out-of-season O-bon dance for the film.