The Ugly American
“The most explosive adventure of our time!”
Synopsis
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?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ambassador MacWhite's Congressional HearingOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-08-30
Top Cast
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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
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 2, 1963
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- George Englund
- Screenplay & Story
- Stewart Stern, Eugene Burdick, William J. Lederer
- Original Score
- Frank Skinner
- Original Title
- The Ugly American
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Studios
- Universal International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
George Englund
Stewart Stern, Eugene Burdick, William J. Lederer
Frank Skinner
Clifford Stine
Ted J. Kent
George Englund
Department Leadership Roster
George Englund
Director
Paul Baxley
Stunt Coordinator
Clifford Stine
Director of Photography
Stewart Stern
Writer
George Englund
Producer
Ted J. Kent
Editor
Frank Skinner
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Ugly American.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ugly American
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Ugly American about?
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?
Who directed The Ugly American?
The Ugly American was directed by George Englund.
Who stars in The Ugly American?
The principal cast of The Ugly American includes Marlon Brando, Eiji Okada, Sandra Church, Pat Hingle, Arthur Hill.
When was The Ugly American released and how long is it?
The Ugly American was released in 1963 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
Who composed the musical score for The Ugly American?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Ugly American was composed by Frank Skinner.
Is The Ugly American based on a book or true story?
The Ugly American is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Eugene Burdick", Novel: "William J. Lederer".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Ugly American?
The Ugly American holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.).