Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This film takes place just prior the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor with a beautiful woman named "Kate Murdoch" (Lynn Bari) casually walking into a place called "the Dixie Bar" in Shanghai. Her interest appears to be in purchasing some jade from a man named "Captain Larsen" (Ian Wolfe) but it becomes quite clear that there is something unusual about this transaction due to the amount of interest being shown by certain other shady characters within the bar. To make matters even more complicated a Japanese gambler by the name of "Saito" (Noel Madison) wants to purchase the bar even though the owner, "Roy Bonnell" (Preston Foster) has no interest in selling it. What Roy doesn't realize is the methods Saito is prepared to utilize in order to get what he wants. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a nifty little spy drama which the producer (Darryl Zanuck) managed to rush into production quickly after Pearl Harbor to maximize potential interest. Although the cast isn't that great both Lynn Bari and Preston Foster manage to make the most of out of their characters to enhance what otherwise would have been a routine grade-B film. Slightly above average.

Leonard Maltin reviews this picture in his Classic Movie Guide. He missed it altogether but, hey, nobody's perfect. By his description it is a "dated espionage film"...and he's right - it is. It was released in 1942, which makes it 73 years old, but his 3-line synopsis doesn't do it justice.There are several similarities to "Casablanca" that nobody has mentioned yet. The main character (Preston Foster) is an American expatriate who owns a bar, although this time in Shanghai. Customers of all stripes come and go; some are suspicious, some not. Of course, there are shady goings-on, or else what's the point of making the movie. A voluptuous woman (Lynn Bari) slinks in one night and asks suspicious questions. Her presence triggers some of the local baddies into action. He is attracted to her and his curiosity is aroused. There follows non-stop action as the Japanese close in on the both of them. It is tense and gripping and the 72 minutes flies by, and at break-neck speed.Can't tell you how rewarding it is to watch an unknown movie and get a big payoff. There wasn't a bad acting job in the lot, and the taut direction was by actor-director Irving Pichel, who directed many unknown gems like this one. If you like well-done spy pictures, this one is for you. Try and see it if you can.

SECRET AGENT OF JAPAN : 1942This Twentieth Century Fox production was quite possibly the first anti-Japanese film released after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It went into production on Dec 8th 1941. It was in the theatres by the end of April 1942. The film is set in Shanghai, China, a week before the day of infamy. Preston Foster owns a night club and gambling house in the International quarter of the Japanese controlled city. Foster has been on the lam for years from a murder beef in the United States. Foster is always fending off buyers who wish to take over the profitable venture. These include the local Japanese big wig, Noel Madison, Nazi Kurt Katch, and Chinese lawyer, Victor Sen Yung. Foster likes things the way they are and blows off the offers. Also in the mix is the Russian exile, Steven Geary. One evening, a ravishing brunette, Lynn Bari, enters the club looking for a letter addressed to a certain sea Captain. The club is used as a mail drop by numerous European and American ex-pats. Foster is impressed with the fine looking Bari, but refuses to turn over any mail. Also in the club is pretty blonde, Janis Carter. Carter and Bari seem to know each other. This is confirmed when Carter slips a cigarette case to Bari. Inside is a message about a meeting. Next thing the viewer discovers, is that damn near everyone in the place seems to be a spy for some country or another. There are Japanese, Nazi, and British secret service types as thick as flies. Also in the place is an American cop, Addison Richards, who has been tracking Foster around the world. Anyways, bodies soon start to pile up, and Foster is caught in the middle of the mess. Everyone seems to be after the some piece of jade that contains a secret file. Someone bumps off Miss Carter and stuffs her in a closet in Foster's office. The Police are soon pounding on the doors. Foster decides it is time to blow this burg, but his getaway cash has been lifted. He is now forced to join in the hunt for the jade piece. He hopes to use the item to bargain his way out of trouble. Instead, he just ends up further up the proverbial creek. To make matters worse, the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor and they now occupy the International quarter. Foster throws himself in with British spy, Bari. They have managed to get the jade piece away from the Japanese. They are helped in this by the Chinese underground, who thoughtfully supply an aircraft to fly them to safety. The information hidden in the jade piece is a list of Japanese agents operating in the West. The story is by John Larkin, who penned a half dozen or so 'Charlie Chan" films. This film is not one of his better efforts. It is full of plot holes and the like. There are a few snappy lines delivered by Foster, but this is not enough to forgive the sloppy writing. The direction is strictly pedestrian with former actor, turned helmsman, Irving Pichel at the controls. Pichel is best known for the 50's sci-fi classic, "Destination Moon", the Randolph Scott duster, "Santa Fe" and the film noir, "They Won't Believe Me" and "Quicksand".The look of the film though is quite good with veteran cinematographer, Lucien Andriot, doing the lensing. Andriot was active from 1909 to 1960.Though the film was panned by the critics as a rather slipshod production (I agree here) the film made box loads of cash for Twentieth Century Fox, and was one of the studio's biggest hits of 1942. Personally, I'm willing to watch Miss Bari in anything. She was not referred to as The Woo Woo Girl for nothing. What a stunner!

I viewed this movie for the first time today and thought it was a fast moving little thriller.The acting was very good by Lynn Bari and Preston Foster. All of the supporting actors also did an admirable job.