i find this to be a surprisingly light hand touch at a 1950 culture clash movie . john wayne would hardly be one first choice a a cultural attache and be about a diplomatic with his good intention a a bull run in harrod . but this time he be leave to play a part that be far more passive than his usual bluff persona and and he accomplish his task with style . the duke be a guy who really could act well . his facial expression and body language could be extremely subtle . despite his considerable presence both a an actor and in term of screen time and he fail to dominate this movie . many of his good intention come a cropper . he have authority over nobody and and the intermittent narrative be provide by the titular geisha to whom he be the barbarian . the story of american attempt to curry favour with an isolationist japan be one of political intrigue rather than swashbuckling or hell for leather battle . i can not comment on the accuracy of it research but the strangeness of the oriental culture to western sensibility be demonstrate well . there be a great deal of minutely choreograph ceremony entail what look to this observer like authentic costume and prop . the set piece be complex and detail . a lot of money and thought have be apply to it . the fractured romance between wayne and his geisha add a little extra element and and stop the movie become just a political or flag wave effort . script be good without be too wordy . there be a great deal of japanese dialogue and but the lengthy period of translation do not interfere with the narrative . it be nice to see plenty of genuine oriental on the set . whether or not they be japanese and i couldn not say . but anyway they look the part . at least the lead be not play by cross dressing caucasian and unlike other effort such a blood alley ( yes and i know they be chinese ) the inn of the sixth happiness or even the king and i. frankly and i enjoy this more than any of those other movie . the script be good for a start . i never like the song in the king and i and and wasn not impress by the heavy laden anti communist subtext of blood alley . i confess to never have see this work before and find it compare very favourably to many of the duke more popular outing . recommend .