Joe Butterfly
“The Uproarious Saga of Those Hilarious Heroes Who Took Tokyo in a Storm of Laughter with their Riotous Operation Kimono!”
Synopsis
The staff of "Yank" magazine are among the first American troops into Tokyo after the Japanese surrender. Their mission: produce an issue of the magazine...in three days. To accomplish the seeming impossible, they reluctantly enlist the aid of black marketeer and arch-conniver Joe Butterfly, who sets them up in a palatial private mansion, complete with lovely daughter -- strictly against regulations. How much trouble can our heroes talk their way out of?
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Burgess Meredith
Joe Butterfly
Audie Murphy
Pvt. Joe Woodley
George Nader
Sgt. Ed Kennedy
Keenan Wynn
Harold Hathaway
Keiko Shima
Chieko
Fred Clark
Col. E.E. Fuller
John Agar
Sgt. Dick Mason
Charles McGraw
Sgt. Jim McNulty
Shinpei Shimazaki
Boku
Reiko Higa
False Tokyo Rose
Tatsuo Saitō
Sakayama
Chizu Shimazaki
Mother
Herbert Anderson
Maj. Ferguson
Eddie Firestone
Sgt. Oscar Hulick
Frank Chase
Yeo. Saul Bernheim
Harold Goodwin
Col. Hopper
Willard W. Willingham
Soldier
Al Ricketts
Reporter (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 29, 1957
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jesse Hibbs
- Screenplay & Story
- Jack Ruge, Evan Wylie, Sy Gomberg, Jack Sher, Marion Hargrove
- Original Title
- Joe Butterfly
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- Universal International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jesse Hibbs
Jack Ruge, Evan Wylie, Sy Gomberg, Jack Sher, Marion Hargrove
Irving Glassberg
Milton Carruth
Aaron Rosenberg
Department Leadership Roster
Irving Glassberg
Director of Photography
Aaron Rosenberg
Producer
Jesse Hibbs
Director
Sy Gomberg
Writer
Jack Sher
Writer
Marion Hargrove
Writer
Milton Carruth
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Joe Butterfly.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Joe Butterfly.
War: World War II
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
Similar Titles to Joe Butterfly
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
9.0
4.6
7.5
7.4
5.5
6.9
3.7
3.0
7.2
7.2
7.6
7.4
7.3
6.9
6.4
3.9
More Like Joe Butterfly
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joe Butterfly
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Joe Butterfly about?
The staff of "Yank" magazine are among the first American troops into Tokyo after the Japanese surrender. Their mission: produce an issue of the magazine...in three days. To accomplish the seeming impossible, they reluctantly enlist the aid of black marketeer and arch-conniver Joe Butterfly, who sets them up in a palatial private mansion, complete with lovely daughter -- strictly against regulations. How much trouble can our heroes talk their way out of?
Who directed Joe Butterfly?
Joe Butterfly was directed by Jesse Hibbs.
Who stars in Joe Butterfly?
The principal cast of Joe Butterfly includes Burgess Meredith, Audie Murphy, George Nader, Keenan Wynn, Keiko Shima.
When was Joe Butterfly released and how long is it?
Joe Butterfly was released in 1957 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Joe Butterfly?
Joe Butterfly holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.).