China

Alan Ladd is a guy making an easy buck in the war between Japan and the Nationalist Chinese forces, selling oil products to the advancing Japanese. He has William Bendix working for him, and Bendix is a little soft in the heart, rescuing Chinese babies in bombed out cities and so forth. Then they are joined by missionary Loretta Young, who persuades Ladd against his better judgment to fill his truck with young Chinese girls and head west before the Japanese get them. But one girl jumps off the truck to go take care of her parents. It's Ladd who goes to find her, and what he sees changes his mind about this being a place to just make a buck.

Until just after the halfway mark it's a straightforward adventure, with Ladd in cynical mode. After that it turns into a propaganda piece, and this being wartime, there's one Code-breaking shot as one of the Chinese commandos drives a knife into a Japanese soldier in full view. Cameraman Leo Tover shoots it and other shots in strongly shadowed light, and shoots the sort of 'group portrait' shot that director John Farrow liked to use, when he isn't shooting the leads in close-up. It's the sort of propaganda adventure movie that the studios were making during the Second World War, and putting some strong leads in. Fortunately for the budget, you've got Ladd and Miss Young on the first card, Bendix gets his name alone n the second, and the third card has five actors, all of them Asian Americans, including Philip Ahn and Sen Yung.

Dusted off from long time in the vault, John Farrell's 'China' surprises. Allan Ladd plays a cynical, war profiteer, a part well chosen for him. He sells to the highest bidder: the Imperial Japanese waging war against the Nationalist troops, short of money, but not in men. And then there's doe eyed Loretta Young, born and bred in China and with missionary fervor remains in China to aid and assist her students, refugees. William Bendix as Ladd's side kick has a tender heart and is a sucker for an abandoned baby. But the surprise are the Asian actors...Korean Philip Ahn, Chinese Richard Loo and Victor Sen Yung and Marion Quon, among others, who usually plays small parts in Chan Chin films. Here, in 'China', at war, they have strong roles who force at the end of a barrel of a gun, to do as they want in their fight against the invading Japanese. They are forceful, intelligent and well able to fight with the Americans playing as it turns out to be in the background. Amazing? In a way, our allies in the fight against Japanese militarism, but in the US declared by act of Congress as a 'cursed minority', restricted in immigration, forced to live in ghettos quaintly known as 'China towns',centers of opium dens, intrigue and possibly engaged in white slavery. All the prejudice aside, 'China' is an exception. The Chinese characters speak good, standard ordinary English and are robust in character and know what they want to free China from Japanese aggression. Of course, Ladd has a change in heart, helps the Chinese to entrap Japanese troops. And in that he's ennobled by his sacrifice for all that's good and pure in America; he finds love in Young, and Bendix remains true to his heart. It's a pity, it is not shown on the television or in cinema clubs.

Why the hate over this film? I have to disagree. Called a quickie B movie, getting as much work out of Alan Ladd as the studio could pre-stardom(?) - the site reviews go to town.

I wasn't aware that Ladd hadn't hit stardom when this film was made - that's baloney. A B movie? With that incredible opening scene and those effects? Starring Ladd, Bendix, and Loretta Young?

This is a propaganda film. Ladd plays an opportunist who sells oil to the Japanese. One night his truck is basically taken over by Young, who is a teacher, desperate to get her female students to safety.

Ladd of course winds up joining the fight after tragedy strikes. Some very exciting and sad scenes.

And yes, the Japanese are portrayed as monsters, as they are any time it is shown what they did to the Chinese people.

Young, Ladd, Bendix, Philip Ahn, and Marianne Quon give excellent performances as do the rest of the cast.

You may notice that Bendix and Ladd often worked together in films. They were best friends and neighbors.

Always interesting to see how Ladd's height is handled. Don't believe reports that he was 5'6" or 5'7". His nickname was Tiny when the average American male's height was 5'8".

Very good film, very absorbing.

Shortly before Pearl Harbor, American opportunist Jones and partner Johnny are in China to sell oil to the invading Japanese army. Cynical about the sufferings of the Chinese, Jones meets compassionate teacher Carolyn Grant while travelling cross-country to Shanghai. Sparks fly between these strong-willed characters, neither budging an inch. But when Jones witnesses a Japanese atrocity, his feelings toward his customers (and Carolyn) begin to change...

A very good war adventure that starts leisurely, featuring a hard-headed American who sells oil to the Japanese and doesn't care about the atrocity caused. He's played by Alan Ladd, who does a good job as the grumpy trucker. William Bendix is a much more cheerful sidekick in contrast, and cares about people and even finds a baby amidst the war torn area.

Of course, Loretta Young as a teacher helping some Chinese kids reach their destination soon thaws Ladd's heart, and that's also helped by a surprising harrowing and brutal scene where they find the baby (Bendix had found), mother and father of a girl dead, and the girl in the house with Japanese soldiers in an implied assault scene. The action scenes are rousing and can be starkly brutal. The ending is quite shocking too with a redemptive note.

This 1943 film, is in the realms of an Indiana Jones movie, with Alan Ladd wearing the leather jacket and black fedora hat.

I have to admit that the makers of this film, did a good job in creating China within their own native Hollywood.

Alan Ladd and Loretta Young both give good performances, who help a group of young Chinese students escape from the invading Japanese armies.

The supporting cast also give good performances.

There are lots of good action scenes, and the cinematography is excellent.

When I watched this film on dvd, I found the quality of the print, that was used to transfer this movie onto dvd was in perfect condition.