The Ugly American (film)

The Ugly American is a 1963 American political thriller film directed by George Englund and starring Marlon Brando. It is based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, although the film significantly deviates from the book's plot and themes.

The film centers on Harrison Carter MacWhite (Brando), the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the fictional Southeast Asian nation of Sarkhan. MacWhite, initially naive and idealistic, arrives in Sarkhan hoping to understand and assist the country. He is met with a complex political landscape, including rising communist influence and anti-American sentiment fueled by both legitimate grievances and external manipulation.

MacWhite struggles to navigate the cultural differences and political intrigue, often clashing with his staff and local leaders. He initially supports a pragmatic but corrupt leader, Deong, but comes to realize that this strategy is ultimately counterproductive. The film portrays the difficulties faced by American diplomats in understanding and engaging with foreign cultures, and critiques the tendency of American foreign policy to prioritize political expediency over genuine understanding and respect.

While the film shares the title and a general premise with the novel, it presents a less nuanced and more conventional Cold War narrative. The book explores multiple perspectives and suggests that American arrogance and cultural insensitivity are significant factors contributing to anti-Americanism abroad. The film, however, focuses more on external communist threats and presents MacWhite as a relatively sympathetic figure who learns from his mistakes.

The film was met with mixed reviews upon its release and has been subject to debate regarding its portrayal of American foreign policy and its faithfulness to the source material. It is generally considered a product of its time, reflecting the anxieties and political climate of the early 1960s. It remains a significant example of Cold War-era cinema.