The reconstruction of Japan after World War II probably doesn't sound like a natural idea for a comedy. But The Teahouse of the August Moon demonstrates that you can make a comedy about some of the most unlikely subjects. It's hilarious. It involves a American officer with a penchant for getting into creative sorts of trouble assigned to teach democracy to the people of a particular Japanese village, but the reformation process seems to go more the other way, much to the chagrin of Colonel Purdy, played by Paul Ford, who steals the show.