The Ugly American

Overview

An intelligent, articulate scholar, Harrison MacWhite, survives a hostile Senate confirmation hearing at the hands of conservatives to become ambassador to Sarkan, a southeast Asian country where civil war threatens a tense peace. Despite his knowledge, once he's there, MacWhite sees only a dichotomy between the U.S. and Communism. He can't accept that anti-American sentiment might be a longing for self-determination and nationalism. So, he breaks from his friend Deong, a local opposition leader, ignores a foreman's advice about slowing the building of a road, and tries to muscle ahead. What price must the country and his friends pay for him to get some sense?

Details

Cast

Marlon Brando

Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite

Eiji Okada

Deong

Sandra Church

Marion MacWhite

Pat Hingle

Homer Atkins

Arthur Hill

Grainger

Jocelyn Brando

Emma Atkins

Reiko Sato

Rachani, Deong's Wife

Kukrit Pramoj

Prime Minister Kwen Sai

Judson Pratt

Joe Bing

George Shibata

Munsang

Philip Ober

Ambassador Sears

Carl Benton Reid

Senator at Confirmation Hearing

Judson Laire

Senator Brenner

Yee Tak Yip

Sawad, Deong's Assistant

Frances Helm

James Yagi

John Daheim

Late Arrival at Meeting

Leon Lontoc

Lee Pang

Bill Stout

Tyler, NBC Reporter

Stefan Schnabel

Andrei Krupitzyn