William Lundigan stars in this indie docudrama about a state department attaché in China who gets mixed up in the Chinese Civil War. Fresh-faced Ken Seeley (Lundigan) arrives ready to work with Consul-General Reither (skeletal Frank Ferguson) at a remote American embassy, but finds all is not well when a Mongolian warlord (a sneering Richard Loo, clearly enjoying himself) occupies the grounds in an effort to evade the central government. Seeley attempts to outsmart the warlord, but in a surprisingly bittersweet and ominous finale, ends up his hostage instead. Shot on the cheap by indie Film Classics, State Department File 649 is a fascinating glimpse at American attitudes toward China circa 1949, but really isn't much of a movie. Though the Asian characters are depicted by Asian actors, they are laden with racist baggage, and the film looks horrible thanks to the earth-tone saturated Cinecolor. An odd little film for hardcore film buffs only.
Review of State Department: File 649
