Come See the Paradise (1990)

60% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(401 ratings)

One of the few American films to deal with the tragic story of the internment of Asian-Americans during World War II, Come See the Paradise opens in the late 1930s, as Jack McGurn (Dennis Quaid) is working as a union organizer in New York City. Jack finds himself on the wrong side of the law after… More One of the few American films to deal with the tragic story of the internment of Asian-Americans during World War II, Come See the Paradise opens in the late 1930s, as Jack McGurn (Dennis Quaid) is working as a union organizer in New York City. Jack finds himself on the wrong side of the law after he gets involved in an ill-advised bombing of a scab shop, and he flees to Los Angeles, where Hiroshi Kawamura (Sab Shimono) gives him a job as a projectionist in L.A.'s Little Tokyo. Jack soon meets Hiroshi's beautiful daughter Lily (Tamlyn Tomita) and it's love at first sight. Jack and Lily decide to get married, but Hiroshi opposes the match and California law prevents mixed-race couples from obtaining a marriage license. Jack and Lily move to Seattle, where they are wed and soon have a daughter. Jack, however, begins working with the union again, which puts a strain on their marriage; Lily takes their child and returns to Los Angeles. But before long the United States enters World War II, and the Kawamura family is sent (along with all other Americans of Japanese descent living in California) to an internment camp, as it is believed they will become traitors against America if left to their own devices. Jack, ironically, is drafted into the Army and soon goes AWOL to return to California, where he tries to find his wife in the camps. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Alan Parker
Written By: Alan Parker
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 7, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Jun 6, 2006

Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A love story set against the internment of Japanese Americans following Pearl Harbor.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
Unfocused, overly dramatic, and all over the map; the ostensible subject deserves a much better treatment.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Seriously underrated work from Dennis Quaid and Alan Parker.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Leo L

One of my all-time favorite movies!! Love this movie with Quaid and Tomita! Beautiful tale of love and devotion, a fascinating story of the strength of family ties. FANTASTIC!!

Cast

            Dennis Quaid as Jack McGurn

            Tamlyn Tomita as Lily Kawamura

            Sab Shimono as Mr. Kawamura

            Shizuko Hoshi as Mrs. Kawamura

            Stan Egi as Charlie Kawamura

            Ronald Yamamoto as Harry Kawamura

            Naomi Nakano as Joyce Kawamura

            Brady Tsurutani as Frankie Kawamura

            Elizabeth Gilliam as Young Mini

            Shyree Mezick as Middle Mini

            Colm Meaney as Gerry McGurn

            Becky Ann Baker as Marge McGurn

            Don Adler as Race Track Soldier

            Shûko Akune as Reiko Sakoda

            Tommy Allen
            
            Cynthia Aso
            
            Tricia L. Campbell
            
            David Carpenter as Army Captain

            Paul A. DiCocco Jr. as Eddie

            Ben di Gregorio as FBI Agent

            Mark Earley as Wedding Singer

            Jumi Emizawa as Camp Singer

            Emi Endo as Japanese Girl

            John Finnegan as Brennan

            Howard French as Draft Clerk

            Mariko Fujinaka as Fumiko

            Joe Heinemann
            
            Tad Horino as Mr. Noji

            Sanae Hosaka as Social Club Singer

            Takumaro Ikeguchi as Mr. Fujioka

            Yoshimi Imai as Mr. Yamanaka

            Lenny Imamura as Japanese Actor

            Fred Irinaga as Mr. Matsui

            Dale Ishimoto as Mr. Ogata

            Richard Iwamoto as Committee Chairman

            John Jensen
            
            Danny Kamekona as Mr. Nishikawa

            Douglas Kato
            
            Ken Katsumoto as Kenji

            Caroline Junko King as Principal

            Teri Eiko Koide
            
            Joe Lisi as Detective

            Fran Lucci as Dance Hall Singer

            Doug MacHugh as Store Manager

            Dave MacIntyre as Santa

            Ken Y. Mayeno
            
            John Mazzocco
            
            John McColpin as MP Soldier

            Kevin McDermott as Administrator

            Goh Misawa as Acting Troupe Manager

            Marian Mukogawa as Fujioka's Mother

            Akemi Nishino as Dulcie Kawamura

            Kim Robillard as Road Block Soldier

            Bill M. Ryusaki as Issei Gentleman

            Saachiko as Woman in Uniform

            Makio Sasaki as Heckler

            Keenan Shimizu
            
            Ben Slack as Farmer

            Gigi Toya as Kindergarten Teacher

            Frank Trocha
            
            Pruitt Taylor Vince as Augie Farrell

            Kelsy White as McGurn Children

            George P. Wilbur
            
            Ian Woolf as Basic Training Sergeant

            Michael York as Dance Hall Band Member

            Harunobu Yoshida as Demonstration Leader

            Shinko isobe as Mrs. Ogata

            Robert F. Colesberry as Truck Driver

            George 'Buck' Flower
            
            Lisa Clarkson
            
            Allan Graf as Theatre Men
See full cast