China ** (1943, Loretta Young, Alan Ladd, William Bendix) – Classic Movie Review 10,102

Director John Farrow’s 1943 propaganda war film China stars Alan Ladd, in a typical role for him as cynical, tough guy profiteer Mr David Jones, who has a change of heart as Pearl Harbor and a Japanese atrocity turn the American oil salesman in China to sell oil to the invading Japanese army into a patriotic guerrilla, zapping the Japanese who have invaded China.

Ladd and director Farrow aim certainly at the American wartime box-office with an appeal to Stars and Stripes flag-waving and plenty of action. Top billed Loretta Young (as hero’s love interest, beautiful compassionate schoolteacher Carolyn Grant) and third billed William Bendix (as hero’s buddy and partner Johnny Sparrow) co-star to effect, particularly Bendix, in this taut, economical and fast moving war drama. It has a strong pro-China and anti-Japanese stance, and employs a range of Asian actors in strong roles.

Ladd was already in the US Forces when the film was released on 21 April 1943. He was drafted in January 1943 and discharged in November 1943 with an ulcer and double hernia.

Frank Butler writes the screenplay based on a play by John Stuart Dudley (writing as Archibald Forbes).

It is shot in black and white by Leo Tover.

Also in the cast are Philip Ahn, Iris Wong, Victor Sen Yung, Richard Loo, Tala Birrell, Marianne Quon, Irene Tso, Beal Wong, Bruce Wong and Chester Gan.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,102

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