Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

I don't think this was made to be a history commentary. Sometimes a film is made to help people heal from the horrors of past traumas. Glen Ford had an amazing gift that few people realized. He had the ability to make you fall in love, to really make you cry, to be furious, to laugh your heart out and to make us look at ourselves. Another of these films but in my estimation a 10, is Tea House Of The August Moon. One no one should miss. This little film here may be fluf, but compared to today's trash, this gets my vote every time. For families, guys who want a good clean! laugh, and just any bunch of people, it is safe, you could have a good time. clean !augh and for laugh,

This is really an inane film that seemed to get somewhat better as it went on.Miyoshi Umeki proved once again that she was no actress and confirmed my belief that her supporting Oscar for "Sayonara" was absolutely ridiculous. This being said, Umeki finally broke out of those sad doldrums that she displayed on screen. Even in this comedy, she looked at times like she did as Mrs. Joe Kelly, wife of Red Buttons, in that miserable 1957 film. There is one scene in "Cry for Happy" where she pretends to be a nurse interviewing a reporter who is interested in adopting a child. That scene was quite humorous, but we see little else going for her.The film itself deals with three gobs in Japan who stay at a geisha house and then claim that the latter place is an orphanage. The fun breaks out once children are brought in to make the place look legitimate.Donald O'Connor joins Glenn Ford as one of the sailors. The film goes to show you that without dancing, O'Connor is lost.

It's a durn shame that the actual filming locations aren't listed here, as of July 2008. A title card at the beginning wants us to believe that this was filmed at the US Naval base in Japan in 1951 right after WW II, but for starters, we know this was filmed in 1960/1961. All the inside shots could be filmed on a set. The picture starts at a geisha performance, with the show and the girls being explained to the navy and to the viewer. Sailors led by Murray Prince (O'Connor) are assigned to help CPO Cyphers (Glenn Ford) for a military press project. Sharp viewers will recognize Joe Flynn as John McIntosh, rep for the U.S. press. He will be the Captain in McHale's Navy in 1962. Watch for Ted Knight (from Mary Tyler Moore) as Glick, the Admiral's assistant. Also, Miyoshi Umeki, one of the geisha girls, will be the housekeeper in Courtship of Eddie's Father in 1969. At a press corp meeting, the marines confront the navy, and the lies and mixups begin. While a little dated now, the exotic Japanese kimonos and house decorations, authentic or not, must have made for an interesting film at the time. Similar to "Walk Don't Run" which Cary Grant would make in 1966. Some clever bits about a spaghetti western done Japanese style. Keep an eye out for Harriet MacGibbon, the Admiral's wife - she was Mrs. Drysdale in Beverly Hillbillies. At 110 minutes, this goes on pretty long, but its an entertaining film.

Not a very good movie. I can't remember when this was last shown on the boob tube. Much of it was filmed on location aboard the USS Los Angeles (CA-135), a heavy cruiser once homeported in Long Beach, California. Many ship's company appeared as extras. If you're a Glenn Ford or Donald O'Connor fan, or simply want to see what a heavy gun cruiser looked like, it might be worth your time. Just don't have any expectations beyond that. There are better WWII Navy movies out there, such as "The Enemy Below," "The Caine Mutiny," and "Onionhead." For some good inside info on the making of "Cry For Happy," ask anybody who was serving aboard the LA when this was filmed.