Nobody's Perfect (1968)

Nobody's Perfect Poster

This military service comedy chronicles the misadventures of the U.S.S. Bustard in Japan. The crew has stolen a Buddha statue from a Japanese village, which if discovered missing would threaten Japanese/American relations. Doc Willoughby is the ship's petty officer, whose antics are constantly getting him into trouble with his captain. On shore leave, Willoughby falls for a seemingly demure Japanese girl in a kimono shop, who actually turns out to be a Japanese/American nurse in the US Navy, Lt. Tomiko Momoyama. However, it turns out she was betrothed as a child to a traditional Japanese man named Toshi, who fully intends on enforcing tradition. Willoughby divides his time between trying to return the Buddha statue back to the Japanese village it rightfully belongs to, and trying to woo Tomiko from the traditional Japanese man she rightfully belongs to.

Intro

"Nobody's Perfect" is an American romantic funny movie released in 1968. Directed by Alan Rafkin, the movie stars Doug McClure, Jill St. John, and Charles Drake. The story describes the comedic experiences of Navy Lieutenant Commander Steve Blair, portrayed by Doug McClure, who ends up being embroiled in a culture clash as he discovers a twist of fate.

Plot Synopsis
The film unfolds in the post-war Tokyo, where Steve Blair, working as an American navy officer, finds himself trying to understand the abundant cultural and social contrasts presented by the city. He is appointed to arrange a golf tournament in between the United States and Japanese teams. Nevertheless, complications develop when Blair erroneously finds out Zen Buddhism rather of the game's Japanese guidelines. He is mentored by a Zen Master, Uchiyama Roshi, helping him go beyond the complexities of Zen.

All at once, Blair gets associated with a romantic experience, falling in love with the spectacular translator, Ricky Tojo played by Jill St. John. The language barriers and cultural differences are highlighted in an amusing setting, creating humorous scenes throughout the film, as he attempts to reveal his sensations for Ricky.

Climax and Conclusion
As the story progresses, the American golf group is assumed to lose as their coach Blair is focused on Zen instead of dealing with golf course techniques. However, the climax of the motion picture is a remarkable shift in his knowing. Through the incorporation of Zen into his understanding of golf, Blair has the ability to lead his group to remarkably exceptional performances, leading to their success in the tournament.

Simultaneously, Blair manages to win his love interest, Ricky Tojo, by impressing her with his gotten Zen wisdom and proving his sincerity in spite of cultural and linguistic obstacles. The film ends with the successful marital relationship of Steve and Ricky, their personal struggles and victory being the tender underbelly of the comedic rollercoaster.

Style and Reception
"Nobody's Perfect" is a comedic expedition of cross-cultural understanding, love, and the application of Zen Buddhism in the most unfamiliar territory. The film nimbly handles the themes of cultural diversity, language barriers, and romance through humor and entertaining twist and turns. The performance of the lead stars, particularly Doug McClure, was well-applauded for bringing a light-hearted and charming touch to the intricate character of Steve Blair.

The movie received blended reviews; while some discovered the movie amusing and appealing, others criticized it for its absence of depth in dealing with the cultural distinctions and the superficial representation of Zen Buddhism as a plot gadget.

Concluding Remarks
No matter blended evaluations, the 1968 film, "Nobody's Perfect" stays a delightful expect those looking for light-hearted comedy embedded within a cultural exploration plot. It delivers an enjoyable and revitalizing take on cross-cultural love and a surprising mix of Zen Buddhism with golf. The movie's ending underlines the concept that indeed, nobody is ideal, but with the desire to discover and adjust, one can maximize any circumstance and discover an ideal ending.

Top Cast

  • Doug McClure (small)
    Doug McClure
    Doc Willoughby
  • Nancy Kwan (small)
    Nancy Kwan
    Nurse Tomiko Momyama
  • James Whitmore (small)
    James Whitmore
    Capt. Mike Riley
  • David Hartman (small)
    David Hartman
    Boats McCafferty
  • Gary Vinson (small)
    Gary Vinson
    Walt Purdy
  • James Shigeta (small)
    James Shigeta
    Diver Toshi O'Hara
  • Steve Carlson
    Johnny Crane
  • George Furth (small)
    George Furth
    Hamner
  • Keye Luke (small)
    Keye Luke
    Gondai-San
  • Jill Donohue
    Marci Adler
  • Bea Bradley
    Lt. Large