Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

IN THE ORDER of things, this film comes three after THE MALTESE FALCON (Warner Bros./1941) and just one before CASABLANCA (Warner Bros./1942). This means that we are treated to a Boagy who is possessed of rapidly rising stock in the Filmworld. After the Former, Mr. B.'s resume qualified him as a more than competent Leading Man in Action film; whereas the Latter proved his worth as a Romantic lead.WITH THE RELEASE of this wartime drama, ACROSS THE PACIFIC (Warner Bros./1942), we witness the re-uniting of THE MALTESE FAlCON's Director, John Huston with Bogart, Mary Astor and Sydney Grenstreet. This was the 4th film done by Mr. Greenstreet; who had been a Stage Actor with a forte of Musical Comedy, before first stepping before the camera & bright lights at age 63!WITHOUT OUR GETTING too deep into the story, suffice it is to say that we have a drama that involves the World War II, Pacific Theatre, espionage, treason and the lowly and cowardly behaviour of those seeking wealth at all cost. The basic plot has been used in other movies, including one with another one of Warners' big Stars.WE HAVE THE benefit of a large cast of supporting players, featuring a good number of Hollywood's Asian Community; such as: Keye Luke, Victor Sen Young and Richard Loo. John Hamilton makes a typically authoritative portrayal as the Army Officer heading the Court Martial.OF ALL OF the performances by the principal players (and they were excellent), it was Sydney Greenstreet's portrayal of the Professor with the uncanny affection for all things of the Orient; especially that of Imperial Japan, the Rising Sun and "the East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere."AFTER MUCH TALK about the "superior" culture of the Far East and how he lives it, Dr.Lorenz (Greenstreet) is unable to take his own life, pleading with Rick Leland to "put just one bullet" in his temple. THE COWARDLY NIPPONFILE didn't have the courage to end his own life by committing 'Jack Brickhouse'. Oh excuse us, Schultz! We meant 'Harry Caray'!

Bogey's immediately pre-Casablanca movie re-unites him with his co- stars Astor and Greenstreet and his writer/director of The Maltese Falcon, John Huston. Yes, Huston revised the script as he shot, though he did not receive a credit. This created problems when he was drafted near the end of shooting and Vincent Sherman took over. No join is visible in the film fortunately, due to the polished cinematography of Arthur Edeson (also from The Maltese Falcon) who was to join Bogey on Casablanca. Although the script doesn't measure up to Maltese Falcon standards, it's entertaining enough if not taken too critically and provides some wonderful opportunities for star turns by Bogey, Astor, Greenstreet and a wonderful support cast of delightful oriental off-beats led by Victor Sen Yung as a cheery thug, Chester Gan as the philosophical ship's captain ("It is the Japanese way. If you praise our sons, we say they are unworthy"), Lee Tung Foo as a friendly hotel proprietor and Monte Blue as a silent sot. And, of course, no Oriental-type movie would be complete without Philip Ahn. Here his role is memorable but brief. (That's a curious film we see in the cinema, incidentally. Obviously a Japanese silent movie, though dubbed dialogue on the sound track is designed to give us the impression it's a sound film). Produced on an expansive budget, the film is a marvelous example of Huston's feeling for visual atmosphere. Edeson's low-key film noir lighting is a major asset here, as is Adolph Deutsch's skillful score. The sets are appealingly created too, especially the wharf set with its chugging train and the menacing bulk of the Genoa Maru. In short, Across the Pacific is a very agreeable piece of entertainment indeed. It has quite a lot going for it, especially in the acting, atmospheric and artistic departments. If its entertainment total is less than the sum of its parts, blame the Second World War!

This film contains many aspects of the noir, including the clipped bantering dialogue with the clever intent. Coming soon after The Maltese Falcon, Across the Pacific is something of a mystery movie too.Rick Leland (Humphrey Bogart) is a disgraced military man with dubious loyalties. He gets on a Japanese ship that is sailing to New York City, the Canal Zone and the Orient. While onboard, he becomes familiar with the other passengers: a western businessman named Dr. Leland (Sydney Greenstreet) who has a penchant for all things oriental and a smalltown woman named Alberta (Mastor Astor) who is taking a pleasure cruise.But we sense all is not as it seems. Will Rick sail off into the Japanese sunset, bitter at the country that snubbed him? Will the doctor reveal an insidious intent? Will Alberta prove to be more than a romantic foil for Rick?The action takes place not long before the U.S. would be forced to enter the war. Tensions are high. Eventually there is gunplay and all motives are revealed. Along the way, ATP proves to be an interesting film. The ending reminded me of another film that would follow in 1959--North by Northwest. ATP is a high stakes game of cat and mouse that coexists with a lighthearted romance.My one complaint is that Mary Astor is not an actress I think would inspire lust in Bogart's Rick. Someone like Rita Hayworth would better fit the bill.

Bogart, fresh from a dishonorable discharge (in which we participate cinematically) is not however disqualified from the world, and is soon on a ship to South America. Along the way he discovers that his shipmates, behind their appearances, are all financed by dubious relations with the Japanese. Bogart himself is on the verge of negotiating a little of the sweet action. This is the next film after The Maltese Falcon but it is not a classic. Where exactly it falls short is difficult to say but I think the various intrigues lack interest value. I would have to watch it over again at least once to catch the exact details of each.What it does have is great historical contemporaneity. Pearl Harbor is never mentioned and it is not clear that it has even happened yet in the film. But it really does make the story pop historically. Also interesting that after Pearl Harbor, Hollywood did not turn to a Mr. Roberts type but continued with the downbeat, variously scrupled Bogie. Of course, Bogart turns out to be an honorable man, on his terms.So all in all, I think it has lots to offer. Highly recommended.