I. Y. Yunioshi is a fictional character in Blake Edwards' 1961 American romantic comedy film Breakfast at Tiffany's, which was adapted for the screen by George Axelrod based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella of the same title. The character in the film is significantly different from the character as presented in Capote's original novella,[1][2] and the film version of Mr. Yunioshi, as portrayed by Mickey Rooney, has been the subject of extensive critical commentary and review since its theatrical release due to its use of ethnic stereotypes.
I. Y. Yunioshi
Breakfast at Tiffany's character
The introduction of Mickey Rooney's performance of I. Y. Yunioshi in the theatrical trailer for Breakfast at Tiffany's.
In 1961, The New York Times review of the film said that "Mickey Rooney's bucktoothed, myopic Japanese is broadly exotic."[3] Some reviewers of the day did note an issue over the characterization. James Powers' review in The Hollywood Reporter stated, "Mickey Rooney gives his customary all to the part of a Japanese photographer, but the role is a caricature and will be offensive to many."[4] In Variety, Larry Tubelle wrote simply, "Mickey Rooney’s participation as a much-harassed upstairs Japanese photographer adds an unnecessarily incongruous note to the proceedings."[5]
Since 1990
In 1990, The Boston Globe described Rooney's portrayal as "an irascible bucktoothed nerd and an offensive ethnic caricature".[6] In 1993, the Los Angeles Daily News wrote that the role "would have been an offensive stereotype even played by an Asian; the casting of Mickey Rooney added insult to injury".[7]
The portrayal was referenced in the 1993 film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story as an example of Hollywood's racist attitudes about Asians that the Chinese Bruce Lee's success as a film star would challenge. Specifically, when Lee and his girlfriend Linda Emery watch Breakfast at Tiffany's in the theater, despite laughing at the character, Linda suggests they leave midway through the picture after she notices that Bruce is upset at Rooney's stereotypical depiction.[8][9]
Since 2000
More recent characterizations include as an uncomfortable "stereotype",[10] "painful, misguided",[11] "overtly racist" and "Orientalist",[12] "one of the most egregiously horrible 'comic' impersonations of an Asian ... in the history of movies",[13] and a portrayal "border[ing] on offensive" that is a "double blow to the Asian community – not only is he fatuous and uncomplimentary, but he is played by a Caucasian actor in heavy makeup."[14] Similarities between the character of Mr. Yunioshi and anti-Japanese wartime propaganda in the United States have been noticed by critics Jeff Yang and David Kerr.[15][16]
A free outdoor screening in Sacramento, California, scheduled for August 23, 2008, was replaced with the animated filmRatatouille after protests about the Yunioshi character. The protest was led by Christina Fa of the Asian American Media Watch.[17][18]
A screening was shown August 11, 2011 at Brooklyn Bridge Park's "Movies with a View" series in New York. Due to protests from a multi-ethnic group organized by an online petition at Change.org, the screening also included a short statement by the organizers which acknowledged and validated community concerns about Yunioshi and a brief documentary about Rooney's character and the portrayal of Asian Americans in other films that was edited from a DVD extra for the anniversary DVD.[19] The aforementioned editorial in the New York Daily News by columnist Jeff Yang offered an alternative view regarding the protests: "Far from boycotting the movie or even begrudgingly accepting it, I think it should be mandatory viewing for anyone who wants to fully understand who we are as a culture, how far we've come and how far we still need to go."[15]
Response to criticism
In a 2008 interview about the film, Rooney said he was shocked to hear that his role as Yunioshi had been branded racist by several Asian-American activists. Rooney said he was heartbroken about the criticism: "Blake Edwards ... wanted me to do it because he was a comedy director. They hired me to do this overboard, and we had fun doing it. ... Never in all the more than 40 years after we made it—not one complaint. Every place I've gone in the world people say, 'God, you were so funny.' Asians and Chinese come up to me and say, 'Mickey, you were out of this world.'" Rooney also said that if he had known people would be so offended, "I wouldn't have done it. Those that didn't like it, I forgive them and God bless America, God bless the universe, God bless Japanese, Chinese, Indians, all of them and let's have peace."[17]
Director Blake Edwards expressed the same sentiment, stating "Looking back, I wish I had never done it ... and I would give anything to be able to recast it, but it's there, and onward and upward."[20][full citation needed]
The 2009 DVD re-release of the film included what was described as "a brief and necessary featurette on the character of Mr. Yunioshi, offering an Asian perspective on 'yellow face'".[21]
Other media
A 2013 Broadway show based on the film cast Japanese-American actor James Yaegashi as a culturally assimilated Japanese-American Yunioshi born in California, as the character was written in Capote's original book.[1][2]
^Weiler, A.H. (October 6, 1961). "The Screen: Breakfast at Tiffany's: Audrey Hepburn Stars in Music Hall Comedy". New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
^The Hollywood Reporter: "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by James Powers, October 5, 1961.
^Film review: Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Larry Tubelle, October 6, 1961.
^Koch, John (April 1, 1990). . The Boston Globe. Boston. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
^Ito, Robert B. (March 1997). "A Certain Slant: A Brief History of Hollywood Yellowface". Bright Lights Film Journal. Bright Lights Film Journal. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
^Meaghan, Morris (2007). "Learning from Bruce Lee: pedagogy and Political Correctness in Martial Arts Cinema". In Wilson, Roy; Connery, Christopher Leigh (eds.). The Worlding Project: Doing Cultural Studies in the Era of Globalization. North Atlantic Books. pp. 49–57. ISBN978-1556436802.
^Durant, Yvonne (June 18, 2006). "Where Holly Hung Her Ever-So-Stylish Hat". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
^Guernsey, Jessica (September 2, 2021). "The Undercover Minstrel Show" (PDF). Dartmouth Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Quarterly. Dartmouth College (August 2009): 2–6. For an overtly racist Orientalist representation in American film, see Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).
^Berardinelli, James (2000). "Breakfast at Tiffany's". reelviews.net. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
^ abYang, Jeff (July 17, 2011). "'Breakfast at Tiffany's' protest is misguided: Let's deal openly with the film's Asian stereotypes". NY Daily News. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
^Kerr, David. "Stereotypes in the Media". mrkerronline. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^Bell, Robert (January 12, 2009). . The Trades. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
January 07, 2023
yunioshi, fictional, character, blake, edwards, 1961, american, romantic, comedy, film, breakfast, tiffany, which, adapted, screen, george, axelrod, based, truman, capote, 1958, novella, same, title, character, film, significantly, different, from, character, . I Y Yunioshi is a fictional character in Blake Edwards 1961 American romantic comedy film Breakfast at Tiffany s which was adapted for the screen by George Axelrod based on Truman Capote s 1958 novella of the same title The character in the film is significantly different from the character as presented in Capote s original novella 1 2 and the film version of Mr Yunioshi as portrayed by Mickey Rooney has been the subject of extensive critical commentary and review since its theatrical release due to its use of ethnic stereotypes I Y YunioshiBreakfast at Tiffany s characterThe introduction of Mickey Rooney s performance of I Y Yunioshi in the theatrical trailer for Breakfast at Tiffany s First appearanceBreakfast at Tiffany s novella 1958 Last appearanceBreakfast at Tiffany s film 1961 Created byTruman Capote novella Blake Edwards film Portrayed byMickey Rooney film James Yaegashi play In universe informationAliasMr YunioshiSpeciesHumanGenderMaleOccupationLandlordOriginJapanNationalityJapanese Contents 1 Critical response 1 1 Upon release 1 2 Since 1990 1 3 Since 2000 2 Response to criticism 3 Other media 4 See also 5 ReferencesCritical response EditUpon release Edit In 1961 The New York Times review of the film said that Mickey Rooney s bucktoothed myopic Japanese is broadly exotic 3 Some reviewers of the day did note an issue over the characterization James Powers review in The Hollywood Reporter stated Mickey Rooney gives his customary all to the part of a Japanese photographer but the role is a caricature and will be offensive to many 4 In Variety Larry Tubelle wrote simply Mickey Rooney s participation as a much harassed upstairs Japanese photographer adds an unnecessarily incongruous note to the proceedings 5 Since 1990 Edit In 1990 The Boston Globe described Rooney s portrayal as an irascible bucktoothed nerd and an offensive ethnic caricature 6 In 1993 the Los Angeles Daily News wrote that the role would have been an offensive stereotype even played by an Asian the casting of Mickey Rooney added insult to injury 7 The portrayal was referenced in the 1993 film Dragon The Bruce Lee Story as an example of Hollywood s racist attitudes about Asians that the Chinese Bruce Lee s success as a film star would challenge Specifically when Lee and his girlfriend Linda Emery watch Breakfast at Tiffany s in the theater despite laughing at the character Linda suggests they leave midway through the picture after she notices that Bruce is upset at Rooney s stereotypical depiction 8 9 Since 2000 Edit More recent characterizations include as an uncomfortable stereotype 10 painful misguided 11 overtly racist and Orientalist 12 one of the most egregiously horrible comic impersonations of an Asian in the history of movies 13 and a portrayal border ing on offensive that is a double blow to the Asian community not only is he fatuous and uncomplimentary but he is played by a Caucasian actor in heavy makeup 14 Similarities between the character of Mr Yunioshi and anti Japanese wartime propaganda in the United States have been noticed by critics Jeff Yang and David Kerr 15 16 A free outdoor screening in Sacramento California scheduled for August 23 2008 was replaced with the animated film Ratatouille after protests about the Yunioshi character The protest was led by Christina Fa of the Asian American Media Watch 17 18 A screening was shown August 11 2011 at Brooklyn Bridge Park s Movies with a View series in New York Due to protests from a multi ethnic group organized by an online petition at Change org the screening also included a short statement by the organizers which acknowledged and validated community concerns about Yunioshi and a brief documentary about Rooney s character and the portrayal of Asian Americans in other films that was edited from a DVD extra for the anniversary DVD 19 The aforementioned editorial in the New York Daily News by columnist Jeff Yang offered an alternative view regarding the protests Far from boycotting the movie or even begrudgingly accepting it I think it should be mandatory viewing for anyone who wants to fully understand who we are as a culture how far we ve come and how far we still need to go 15 Response to criticism EditIn a 2008 interview about the film Rooney said he was shocked to hear that his role as Yunioshi had been branded racist by several Asian American activists Rooney said he was heartbroken about the criticism Blake Edwards wanted me to do it because he was a comedy director They hired me to do this overboard and we had fun doing it Never in all the more than 40 years after we made it not one complaint Every place I ve gone in the world people say God you were so funny Asians and Chinese come up to me and say Mickey you were out of this world Rooney also said that if he had known people would be so offended I wouldn t have done it Those that didn t like it I forgive them and God bless America God bless the universe God bless Japanese Chinese Indians all of them and let s have peace 17 Director Blake Edwards expressed the same sentiment stating Looking back I wish I had never done it and I would give anything to be able to recast it but it s there and onward and upward 20 full citation needed The 2009 DVD re release of the film included what was described as a brief and necessary featurette on the character of Mr Yunioshi offering an Asian perspective on yellow face 21 Other media EditA 2013 Broadway show based on the film cast Japanese American actor James Yaegashi as a culturally assimilated Japanese American Yunioshi born in California as the character was written in Capote s original book 1 2 See also EditPortrayal of East Asians in HollywoodPortals Film United States Wikimedia Commons has media related to I Y Yunioshi References Edit a b Meet Mr Yaegashi the New Yunioshi www rafu com March 29 2013 a b Breakfast at Tiffany s Theater Review The Hollywood Reporter March 20 2013 Weiler A H October 6 1961 The Screen Breakfast at Tiffany s Audrey Hepburn Stars in Music Hall Comedy New York Times Retrieved September 24 2011 The Hollywood Reporter Breakfast at Tiffany s by James Powers October 5 1961 Film review Breakfast at Tiffany s by Larry Tubelle October 6 1961 Koch John April 1 1990 Quick Cuts and Stereotypes The Boston Globe Boston Archived from the original on November 8 2012 Retrieved September 24 2011 Breaking Barriers Los Angeles Daily News September 7 1993 Ito Robert B March 1997 A Certain Slant A Brief History of Hollywood Yellowface Bright Lights Film Journal Bright Lights Film Journal Archived from the original on July 14 2009 Retrieved December 23 2010 Meaghan Morris 2007 Learning from Bruce Lee pedagogy and Political Correctness in Martial Arts Cinema In Wilson Roy Connery Christopher Leigh eds The Worlding Project Doing Cultural Studies in the Era of Globalization North Atlantic Books pp 49 57 ISBN 978 1556436802 Durant Yvonne June 18 2006 Where Holly Hung Her Ever So Stylish Hat The New York Times Retrieved October 3 2010 Dargis Manohla July 20 2007 Dude Nyuck Nyuck I Love You as If The New York Times Retrieved October 3 2010 Guernsey Jessica September 2 2021 The Undercover Minstrel Show PDF Dartmouth Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Quarterly Dartmouth College August 2009 2 6 For an overtly racist Orientalist representation in American film see Mickey Rooney as Mr Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany s 1961 The Movies Race and Ethnicity Asian Americans Videotapes in the Media Resources Center UC Berkeley University of California Berkeley Library System Retrieved October 3 2010 Berardinelli James 2000 Breakfast at Tiffany s reelviews net Retrieved October 3 2010 a b Yang Jeff July 17 2011 Breakfast at Tiffany s protest is misguided Let s deal openly with the film s Asian stereotypes NY Daily News Retrieved July 19 2011 Kerr David Stereotypes in the Media mrkerronline Retrieved May 1 2017 a b Magagnini Stephen September 28 2008 Mickey Rooney upset about claims his Tiffany s role is racist Sacramento Bee Scripps Howard News Service Archived from the original on December 5 2008 Retrieved October 3 2010 Breakfast is Out to Lunch AsianWeek August 27 2008 Archived from the original on August 16 2009 Retrieved May 16 2009 breakfast at tiffany s screening will include manaa documentary on mr yunioshi Angry Asian Man Breakfast at Tiffany s The Making of a Classic Bell Robert January 12 2009 DVD Review Breakfast at Tiffany s Centennial Collection The Trades Archived from the original on April 4 2012 Retrieved September 24 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title I Y Yunioshi amp oldid 1112140765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
