China Venture
China Venture
| 07 September 1953 (USA)
China Venture Trailers

American soldiers undertake a mission to capture a Japanese admiral who has survived an air crash in China during WWII.

Reviews
boblipton

Don Siegel directs this movie about a behind-the-lines operation in World War Two China competently but not particularly interestingly, with a air of post-war anomie. An excellent cast, including an improbably present Jocelyn Brando ("Just treat me like a man") is directed for speed. Edmond O'Brien's emoting is so subtle as to be monotonous -- apparently everyone is supposed to be utterly war-weary and only surviving through sheer competence.This sort of movie was popular in this time, with entries like EIGHT IRON MEN and a couple of movies from Sam Fuller, but Siegel can't seem to do much of interest with it.Cinematographer Sam Leavitt tries to shoot things interestingly, with tight compositions and a highly mobile camera -- notice the long single take that leads off the flick. The net result is a competent but uninspiring movie that would play as the second movie in a double bill.

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muddlyjames

Stock company of the usual soldier types with a standard extraneous female in tow (and the standard complications that brings). Rarely get the sense that you are in a Philippian jungle - or in any real danger. Siegel at least doesn't let things drag, however, and there are a couple of good action scenes - particularly the ending. Interactions with, and between, the natives are also (a little) more sophisticated than is usually pictured. 5/10.

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