TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Loui Blair It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

mmallon4 Oh man, these are the kinds of quirky film concepts I live for, definitely up there with films like The Major and the Minor, The Whole Town's Talking and Sylvia Scarlett. I've never previously been a Shirley MacLaine fan but My Geisha may have converted me. Unlike many dual identity films, I actually found the premise here believable, in that Lucy's husband (Yves Montand) wouldn't recognise her disguised as her alter ego geisha by the name of Yoko. At times I forgot MacLaine is pretending to be a Geisha. OK the illusion might not work for everyone but it did for this viewer. Also on a more superficial appraisal, omg Yoko is so cute! I was also surprised and delighted that Edward G. Robinson actually has almost as much screen time as MacLaine, making the two a great comedic pairing. I stated in my review of The Whole Towns Talking (1935) that Edward G. Robinson appeared in some very quirky comedies in his career but this film just furthers that statement, My Geisha is by far the quirkiest of them all.However it's not just goofiness for the sake of goofiness, the dual identity set up actually allows for a deep and complex plot. For starters it examines the business of film by acknowledging the dilemma of casting white actors as non-white characters; you can't get a large budget for a film unless it stars a big box office draw, most of who in the early 1960's where white. The other surprising area of depth that comes out of the goofy plot is the examination of the husband's ego, tired of being in the shadow of his wife's success. Another point of interest if the moment when Edward G. Robinson's character receives the news that Lucy's husband has discovered the truth about Yoko, Robinson asks to be taken to the fourth floor of the hotel. The Japanese tend to avoid use of the number 4 due superstitions regarding the number as unlucky.This film would likely not be made today would be seen as politically incorrect but even if it did despite that you know the film would stop for 20 minutes when Lucy's secret is revealed (otherwise known as the liar revealed) in which one character would tell the other about how they've been betrayed and they never want to see each other again even though they get back together at the end. Not here though, when Lucy's husband discovers she is Yoko (which I should add is done a very clever manner) he quietly accepts that he was fooled and there's no big pointless, drawn out argument scene. Sorry, classic movie fan boy rant.I wonder what the Japanese reaction to this was. I assume this is an idealised version of Japan but ether way this film sure looks beautiful. I believe this could likely be credited to surprising choice of director, Jack Cardiff, normally more famous for his work as a cinematographer. The entire film is a feast for the eyes and ears and even the film within a film looks incredible and is itself emotionally moving. If I can find any complaint in the film it's that Bob Cummings' character is a real creep. Aside from that, My Geisha is another obscure, quirky gem which I adore.

moonspinner55 Beleaguered, contrived story has Shirley MacLaine playing an over-eager actress determined to star in her director-husband's new picture, the musical "Madame Butterfly". But hubby Yves Montand is indifferent, so Shirl travels to the Orient to audition for him disguised as a geisha girl... it's like an episode of "I Love Lucy" where Ricky doesn't recognize his own wife incognito. MacLaine proves to be so convincing in fact that she gets mixed up in romantic misunderstandings and harried make-up switcheroos (the low-point comes when slimy co-star Robert Cummings puts the moves on the sexy geisha--nearly raping her in the process). Terrible movie has a talented star and top-drawer production values, yet it wastes both on ridiculous material. * from ****

spook95613 "my geisha" is charming. suspend belief a bit, and one realises how good an actress shirley maclaine is and how convincingly she becomes a geisha.the movie is fluff. but the attempt to parallel the plot to the libretto of "madama butterfly" is clever and almost successful. edward g.robinson as sharpless; maclaine as pinkerton, and montand as butterfly... it is a very literate attempt to use the sub-plot as the driver for the main plot.there are moments when one is reminded of a doris day-rock hudson frolic - expected in a comedy from 1962. but there's also a real "edge" that comes from the characters being a little less than saccharine. as has been pointed out, the cinematography is quite sharp. so there is an air of substance to the production, and quality is evident.in the end, though, one just should enjoy it.

Chris-147 From a cinematographic point of view this movie is nothing special. However, the performance of Shirley MacLaine, as a Geisha who is secretly playing in her husbands movie, is very good (as always).Accompanied by some other great movie stars, like Edward G. Robinson and Yves Montand, in the supporting roles, this movie is well worth watching. A typical '50s style comedy/drama.