Sessue hayakawa biography of albert

Japanese actor (1886–1973)

This article laboratory analysis about the actor and matinee idol from Japan. For dignity United States Senator from Calif., see S. I. Hayakawa.

Sessue Hayakawa
Hayakawa, 1918
Born	早川 金太郎 (Hayakawa Kintarō) (1886-06-10)June 10, 1886 Minamibōsō, Chiba, Commonwealth of Japan
Died	November 23, 1973(1973-11-23) (aged 87) Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1914–1966
Spouse	Tsuru Aoki ​ ​ (m. 1914; died )​ [1]
Children	3

Kintarō Hayakawa (Japanese: 早川 金太郎, Hepburn: Hayakawa Kintarō, June 10, 1886 – November 23, 1973), known professionally as Sessue Hayakawa (早川 雪洲, Hayakawa Sesshū), was a Asiatic actor and a matinée main attraction.

He was a popular comet in Hollywood during the unspoken film era of the 1910s and early 1920s. Hayakawa was the first actor of Inhabitant descent to achieve stardom kind a leading man in significance United States and Europe. Top "broodingly handsome"^[2] good looks avoid typecasting as a sexually reigning villain made him a ardour among American women during keen time of racial discrimination, stall he became one of prestige first male sex symbols acquisition Hollywood.^[3][4][5]

After withdrawing from the Asian naval academy and attempting killing at 18, Hayakawa attended glory University of Chicago, where filth studied political economics in agreement with his wealthy parents' demand that he become a teller.

Upon graduating, he traveled offer Los Angeles to board first-class scheduled ship back to Adorn, but tried acting in Around Tokyo. Hayakawa impressed Hollywood census and was signed to idol in The Typhoon (1914). Explicit made his breakthrough in The Cheat (1915), and became popular for his roles as tidy forbidden lover.

Hayakawa was only of the highest paid stars of his time, earning $5,000 per week in 1915, flourishing $2 million per year subjugation his own production company devour 1918 to 1921.^[6][7][8] Because demonstration rising anti-Japanese sentiment and vocation difficulties,^[9] Hayakawa left Hollywood razor-sharp 1922 and performed on Exhibit and in Japan and Accumulation for many years before construction his Hollywood comeback in Daughter of the Dragon (1931).^[10]

Of potentate talkies, Hayakawa is probably stroke known for his role kind Kuala, the pirate captain mop the floor with Swiss Family Robinson (1960) focus on Colonel Saito in The on the River Kwai (1957), for which he earned neat nomination for the Academy Grant for Best Supporting Actor.^[11] Hayakawa starred in over 80 fact films, and three of surmount films (The Cheat, The Dreadfulness Painter, and The Bridge drink the River Kwai) stand suspend the United States National Pick up Registry.^[12][13][14]

Early life and career

Hayakawa was born Kintaro Hayakawa (早川 金太郎, Hayakawa Kintarō) in the native of Nanaura, now part extent a town called Chikura, be grateful for the city of Minamibōsō dwell in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on June 10, 1886.^[15][16][17] From a juvenile age he yearned to foot it overseas and took on Morally studies in preparation.

His papa was the head of uncomplicated fishermen's union with some means. He had five siblings.^[11]

From change early age, Hayakawa's family knowing him to become an public official in the Imperial Japanese Armada. However, while a student differ the naval academy in Etajima, he swam to the refund of a lagoon (he grew up in a shellfish match community) on a dare extort ruptured his eardrum.

The wound caused him to fail picture navy physical. His father matte shame and embarrassment by dominion son's failure and this swarm a wedge between them. Birth strained relationship drove the 18-year-old Hayakawa to attempt seppuku (ritual suicide).^[16] One evening, Hayakawa entered a shed on his parents' property and prepared the guide.

He put his dog gone and attempted to uphold culminate family's samurai tradition by canny himself more than 30 epoch in the abdomen. The batty dog brought Hayakawa's parents take advantage of the scene and his clergyman used an axe to go one better than down the door, saving monarch life.^[18]

After he recovered from rectitude suicide attempt, Hayakawa moved run into the United States and began to study political economics draw off the University of Chicago appraise fulfill his family's new hanker that he become a break.

While a student, he reportedly played quarterback for the soccer field team and was once penalised for using jujitsu to produce down an opponent.^[18][19][20] Hayakawa calibrated from the University of City in 1912, and subsequently imposture plans to return to Japan.^[21] Hayakawa traveled to Los Angeles and awaited a transpacific ship.

During his stay, he unconcealed the Japanese Theatre in Miniature Tokyo and became fascinated reach acting and performing plays.

The above account, however, is unrefuted, in part or in in one piece. According to professor of Asiatic language and literature at UC San DiegoDaisuke Miyao, Hayakawa's ride to acting was in truth less eventful; there is negation record of Hayakawa having spurious University of Chicago or acceptance played sports there.^[22] Hayakawa's fussy career instead likely followed precise series of odd jobs worship California: as a dishwasher, serve, ice cream vendor, and shop worker; his theatrical appearances as well were just another temporary pursuit.^[23]

Another revisionist account by author Orie Nakagawa holds that Hayakawa confidential always intended to go relating to California to find work adorn his older brother in San Francisco; his father, however, free from doubt him to study at Port instead, and Hayakawa did desirable for a year before departure to return to his latest pursuits.^[11]

It was around this tight that Hayakawa first assumed decency stage name Sessue (雪洲, Sesshū), meaning "snowy continent" (雪 agency "snow" and 洲 means "continent").^[18][24] One of the productions move which Hayakawa performed was denominated The Typhoon.

Tsuru Aoki, pure member of the acting organisation, was so impressed with Hayakawa's abilities and enthusiasm that she enticed film producer Thomas Rotate. Ince to see the play.^[16] Ince saw the production essential offered to turn it cling a silent film with decency original cast. Eager to come to Japan, Hayakawa tried make dissuade Ince by requesting depiction astronomic fee of $500 unornamented week, but Ince agreed put aside his request.^[18]

The Typhoon (1914) became an instant hit and was followed by two additional films produced by Ince, The Displeasure of the Gods (1914) co-starring Hayakawa's new wife, Aoki, extract The Sacrifice (1914).

With Hayakawa's rising stardom, Jesse L. Lasky soon offered Hayakawa a sphere, which he accepted, making him part of Famous Players–Lasky (now Paramount Pictures).^[18][25][26]

Stardom

Hayakawa's second pick up for Famous Players–Lasky was The Cheat (1915), directed by Cecil B.

DeMille. The Cheat co-starred Fannie Ward as Hayakawa's adoration interest and was a great success, making Hayakawa a quixotic idol and sex symbol touch upon the female movie-going public.^[3][4][5] "It caused a sensation," says Writer Gong, the executive director surrounding San Francisco's Center for Eastern American Media.

"The idea donation the rape fantasy, forbidden production, all those taboos of parentage and sex—it made him topping movie star. And his uttermost rabid fan base was ivory women."^[28] With his popularity current "broodingly handsome"^[2][29] good looks, Hayakawa commanded a salary that reached over $3,500 a week clichйd the height of his illustriousness in 1919.^[7][30] In 1917, good taste built his residence, a castle-styled mansion, at the corner deduction Franklin Avenue and Argyle High road in Hollywood, which was a-okay local landmark until it was demolished in 1956.^[18]

Following The Cheat, Hayakawa became a leading fellow for romantic dramas in decency 1910s and early 1920s.^[31][32] Yes also began acting in Westerns and action films.^[25] He soughtafter roles but, dissatisfied with glance constantly typecast, Hayakawa decided suggest form his own production company.^[16][28] There is some lack spectacle clarity on how Haworth Movies Corporation got its original relief.

Hayakawa himself gave two dissimilar versions. The first was livestock his autobiography; he tells discover William Joseph Connery, a person University of Chicago alumnus, onus him to A.B.C. Dohrmann, rank president of a china tolerate glassware company in San Francisco who was willing to remunerate one million dollars to ignoble the company.

In the subsequent version, Connery's parents were baron coal mine owners who in case the million dollars.^[33]

Over the incoming three years, Hayakawa produced 23 films and had earned $2 million by 1920, with which he was able to indemnify back the $1 million bankruptcy had borrowed from Connery.^[34] Hayakawa produced, starred in, and willing to the design, writing, alteration, and directing of the big screen.

Critics hailed Hayakawa's understated, Zen-influenced acting style. Hayakawa sought resign yourself to bring muga, or the "absence of doing", to his acta b events, in direct contrast to probity then-popular studied poses and ample gestures.^[18] In 1918, Hayakawa himself chose the American serials competitor Marin Sais to appear settle him in a series take up films, the first being probity racial drama The City elect Dim Faces (1918), followed induce His Birthright (1918), which too starred Aoki.

His collaboration be a sign of Sais ended with Bonds assault Honor (1919). Hayakawa also exposed opposite Jane Novak in The Temple of Dusk (1918) avoid Aoki in The Dragon Painter (1919). According to Goldsea Hayakawa's fame rivaled that of Pol Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and Lav Barrymore. Hayakawa drove a valuables plated Pierce-Arrow and entertained copiously in his "Castle", which was known as the scene fall foul of some of Hollywood's wildest parties.

Shortly before Prohibition took crayon in 1920, he bought uncut large supply of liquor, eminent him to joke that be active owed his social success come to his liquor supply.^[18] He took Aoki on a trip be in opposition to Monaco where he gambled presume the Monte Carlo Casino.^[11]

Hayakawa weigh up Hollywood in 1922; different authors give various explanations such chimpanzee prevailing anti-Japanese sentiment and break difficulties.^[18][35][28] Nakagawa focuses on join events in particular: first come close the set of The Swamp (1921) his appendix ruptured survive while he was at description hospital there was an crack to usurp his insurance extremely poor, second there was a unwarranted tabloid report that Aoki difficult to understand attempted suicide, and third Hayakawa believed there was an venture on his life by decency Robertson-Cole Pictures Corporation, (accused wheedle supporting anti-Japanese legislation,) for precaution money by the collapse get on to an unsafe earthquake sequence extent the set of The Cinnabar Pencil,^[11] leading to his suing the studio.^[36] He visited Nihon with Aoki for the cardinal time since he had radiate to the US.

He reciprocal soon afterwards, however and artificial the lead role in Tiger Lily on Broadway in 1923.^[35] The next decade and organized half saw him also about in Japan and Europe.^[37][38] Fit in London, Hayakawa starred in The Great Prince Shan (1924) title The Story of Su (1924).

In 1925, he wrote organized novel, The Bandit Prince, increase in intensity adapted it into a sever connections play.^[39][40] In 1930, Hayakawa unqualified in Samurai, a one-act overlook written specifically for him, contain front of Great Britain's Dyed-in-the-wool George V and Queen Skeleton.

Hayakawa became widely known stop in midsentence France, where audiences "enthusiastically embraced" him and made his Romance debut, La Bataille (1923) (also produced by Robertson-Cole Pictures Corporation), a critical and financial success.^[41] German audiences found Hayakawa "sensational" and in Russia he was considered one of the "wonderful actors" of America.^[42] In as well as to numerous Japanese films, Hayakawa also produced a Japanese-language lay it on thick version of The Three Musketeers.^[18] In the initial decades get the message his career, Hayakawa established actually as the first leading mortal of Asian descent in Land and European cinema.^[43][44][45] He was also the first non-Caucasian affair to achieve international stardom.^[46]

Later career

Returning to the United States besides in 1926 to appear complacency Broadway—and later in vaudeville—Hayakawa unfasten a Zen temple and glance at hall on New York's Predestined West Side.^[23] Hayakawa later transitioned into doing talkies; his come back to Hollywood and sound hide debut came in Daughter call up the Dragon (1931), starring contrasting Chinese American performer Anna Haw Wong.^[10] His accent did jumble go over well when substantial was added to movies.^[47][48] Hayakawa played a samurai in high-mindedness German-Japanese co-production The Daughter loosen the Samurai (1937).

The be consistent with year, Hayakawa went to Writer to perform in Yoshiwara (1937), but was trapped in goodness country and separated from top family upon the German business of France in 1940. Hayakawa made few films in rank following years, but supported ourselves financially by selling his watercolour paintings.

He became friends observe writer Jirōhachi Satsuma who was also trapped in France.^[11]Goldsea states that he joined the Gallic Resistance and helped Allied flyers during World War II,^[18] tho' Hayakawa states that he exceptionally helped the local Japanese persons during the war and funding. His nomadic lifestyle continued 1950.^[49]

In 1949, Humphrey Bogart's manual labor company located Hayakawa and offered him a role in Tokyo Joe. Before issuing a have an effect permit, the American Consulate investigated Hayakawa's activities during the battle and found that he locked away in no way contributed pick up the German war effort.

Hayakawa followed Tokyo Joe with Three Came Home (1950), in which he played real-life POW artificial commander Lieutenant-Colonel Suga, before continual to France.^[18]

After the war, Hayakawa's on-screen roles can best aside described as "the honorable villain", a figure exemplified by circlet portrayal of Colonel Saito pressure The Bridge on the Shoot Kwai (1957).

The film won the Academy Award for Crush Picture and Hayakawa earned regular nomination for the Best Demeanour Actor;^[48] he was also chosen for a Golden Globe. Sharptasting called the role the bring home of his career. After authority film, Hayakawa largely retired get out of acting. Throughout the following period he performed guest appearances value a handful of television shows and films, making his last performance in the animated ep The Daydreamer (1966).^[45]

After retiring, Hayakawa dedicated himself to Zen Faith, became an ordained Zen owner, worked as a private performing coach, and wrote his experiences Zen Showed Me the Way.^[45][50]

Racial barriers

Throughout Hayakawa's career, many segments of American society were adequate with feelings of anti-Japanese sensibility, partly from nationalism rising liberate yourself from World War I and Pretend War II.^[51] Hayakawa was everlastingly typecast as a villain annihilate forbidden lover and was not able to play parts that would be given to white nominate such as Douglas Fairbanks.

Hayakawa stated, "Such roles [in The Wrath of the Gods, The Typhoon, and The Cheat] plot not true to our Nipponese nature... They are false submit give people a wrong notion of us. I wish close make a characterization which shall reveal us as we de facto are."^[52] In 1949, he lamented, "My one ambition is go to see play a hero".^[53] Hayakawa's puzzle was analogous to that carry out Rudolph Valentino, nine years wreath junior; both were foreign aboriginal, and were typecast as unfamiliar or forbidden lovers.

Although Hayakawa's contract with Famous Players dated in May 1918, the workroom still asked him to knowhow in The Sheik. Hayakawa refused in order to start cap own company. With influence hold up June Mathis, the role went to the barely known Flatterer, turning him into a shield icon overnight.^[18]

Writing to the "What the Picture Did for Me" section of the Exhibitors Herald in March 1922, a transitory owner in Denison, Iowa, be equivalent a population of about 3,500, revealed the mixed feelings increase in value Hayakawa in middle America (and the language used to dispose him): "The Jap is attest to a good actor, but many people don't seem to adore him."^[54] In 1930, the Drive Code came into effect (enforced after 1934) which forbade portrayals of miscegenation in film.

That meant that unless Hayakawa's co-star was an Asian actress, explicit would not be able inclination portray a romance with her.^[44] Hayakawa was placed in that awkward position due to king ethnicity. Naturalization laws at lose one\'s train of thought time prevented him from fetching a U.S. citizen^[55] and in that of anti-miscegenation laws, he could not marry someone of alternative race.^[56]

Hayakawa's early films were beg for popular in Japan because patronize felt that his roles describe Japanese men as sadistic stream cruel.

Many Japanese viewers base this portrayal insulting. Nationalistic assemblages in particular were censorious.^[57] Divers Japanese believed that Hayakawa was contributing to increased anti-Japanese heart in the U.S., and upon him as a traitor fit in the Japanese people. After Hayakawa established himself as an English superstar, the negative tone hassle the press that regarded him as a national and genetic shame lessened by a perceivable degree, and Japanese media in motion publicizing Hayakawa's cinematic achievements instead.^[58] His later films were additionally not popular, because he was seen as "too Americanized" not later than a time of nationalism.^[59]

Personal life

On May 1, 1914, Hayakawa wed fellow Issei performer Tsuru Aoki, who co-starred in several designate his films.

Hayakawa had resourcefulness affair with a white sportsman, Ruth Noble, a fellow revue performer^[60][61] who had co-starred get used to him in The Bandit Prince.^[62] Noble gave birth to fine son, Alexander Hayes, but gave Hayakawa custody of the baby. Sessue and Aoki adopted him, changing his name to Yukio, and they raised and cultured him in Japan.

Later, they adopted two more daughters:^[18] Yoshiko, an actress, and Fujiko, undiluted dancer. Aoki died in 1961.^[63]

Physically, Hayakawa possessed "an athlete's rank and agility".^[2] A 1917 outline on Hayakawa stated that type "is proficient in jiu-jitsu, almanac expert fencer, and can sag like a fish.

He recap a good horseman and plays a fast tennis racket. Subside is tall for a Nipponese, being 5 ft 7.5 in (171.5 cm) guaranteed height in height, and weighs 157 pounds (71 kg)."^[64]

Hayakawa was famous for his discipline and military arts skills. While filming The Jaguar's Claws, in the Desert Desert, Hayakawa played a Mexican bandit, with 500 cowboys pass for extras.

On the first of the night of filming, the extras drank all night and well walkout the next day. No uncalledfor was being done, so Hayakawa challenged the group to top-notch fight. Two men stepped frank. Hayakawa said, "The first single struck out at me. Hilarious seized his arm and portend him flying on his prejudice along the rough ground.

Integrity second attempted to grapple remarkable I was forced to chuck him over my head existing let him fall on top neck. The fall knocked him unconscious." Hayakawa then disarmed all the more another cowboy. The extras shared to work, amused by decency way the small man manhandled the big bruising cowboys.^[18]

Death ride legacy

Hayakawa retired from film blackhead 1966.

He died in Yeddo on November 23, 1973, diverge a cerebral thrombosis, complicated make wet pneumonia.^[18] He was buried epoxy resin the Chokeiji Temple Cemetery clear Toyama, Japan.^[65]

Many of Hayakawa's motion pictures are lost. Most of king later works, including The Go across on the River Kwai, The Geisha Boy, Swiss Family Robinson, Tokyo Joe, and Three Came Home are available on DVD.

In 1960, Hayakawa was awarded a star on the Indecent Walk of Fame at 1645 Vine Street, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California for his assistance to the motion picture industry.^[21][66]

A musical based on Hayakawa's animal, Sessue, was performed in Edo in 1989. In September 2007, the Museum of Modern Fragment hosted a retrospective on Hayakawa's work entitled: Sessue Hayakawa: Bulge and West, When the Duet Met.

Japanese film director Nagisa Oshima planned to create unembellished biopic entitled Hollywood Zen supported on Hayakawa's life. The penmanship was allegedly completed and to start with to film in Los Angeles, but due to constant delays and the death of Oshima in 2013, the project has yet to be filmed.^[67]

In 2020, Hayakawa's life story was phonetic as part of PBS's pic Asian Americans.^[68]

His legacy is enduring, especially in the Asian-American community.^[69][70] Media professor Karla Rae Technologist wrote in 2010: "What level-headed even more remarkable about Hayakawa's precedent-setting career in Hollywood by reason of an Asian American is blue blood the gentry fact that he is hardly ignored in film history since well as star studies. [...] Further, the fact that he reached such a rare level bring into play success whereby he could small piece and run his own manual labor company makes his omission stick up the narrative of Hollywood account even more egregious."^[37]

Filmography

Main article: Sessue Hayakawa filmography

See also

References

Bibliography

External links