Spotlight on James Shigeta

This year's Spotlight is on legendary screen icon James Shigeta, the first—and arguably only—Asian American actor to be groomed as a romantic lead in Hollywood. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see his key works and to see Shigeta in person. More »

Bridge to the Sun
Director: Etienne Perier
France/USA | 113 mins
Sun 3/19 | 12:00 PM | Castro Theatre

In his finest performance, James Shigeta co-stars with Carroll Baker in this true story of a blonde belle from Tennessee who married a Japanese diplomat before World War II, then followed him to Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Crimson Kimono
Director: Samuel Fuller
USA | 82 mins
Sat 3/18 | 3:00 PM | Castro Theatre

A detective (James Shigeta) finds himself in a love triangle with his white partner and a woman embroiled in their murder investigation. An L.A.-set noir ahead of its time, both for its exploration of racism and its romance between an Asian man and a Caucasian woman.
Followed by an on-stage conversation between Shigeta and filmmaker Arthur Dong.

Walk Like A Dragon
Director: James Clavell
USA | 95 mins
Sun 3/19 | 7:00 PM | Pacific Film Archive

James Shigeta, DRAGNET’s Jack Lord and Mel Tormé star in this intriguing East-meets-Western. A proud immigrant (Shigeta) in 1870’s California is caught in a love triangle with a Chinese woman (Nobu McCarthy) and a tough cowboy. From the director of SHOGUN.