User Reviews

Fast moving, action-packed and often funny, this pre-World War II political drama is also frequently offensive thanks to some vicious stereotypes of Asians. Willie Fung can be referred to as the Chinese version of Stepin Fetchit with his one dimensional performance of the rather stupid, effeminate Chinese man who seems to cause more trouble than he helps, no matter how well meaning he is. Here, he's a beloved servant to American ambassador Charles Winninger, but in a crisis, he's a total threat to the safety of everyone staying inside the compound while Chinese rebels amass outside.

This film begins on a train going through rebel territory with Russian widow Alice Faye trying to get to the American embassy, claiming that her late American husband would want her to get an American passport to live in his homeland. Faye's Russian accent leaves a lot to be desired, so it is no surprise when the truth about her is realized and Winninger makes it clear that he was on to her from the start. She's not happy that the drunken American reporter (Warner Baxter) she encountered on the train is inside Winninger's lavish embassy. At first, she's very antagonistic towards him, but as she learns about his own situation, a bond between them is created. She encourages him to send out a cable to his former boss as to what is going on, and this leads to an exciting segment where Baxter must put together a cable in order to send out the his wire. With rebels surrounding the cable office, this leads to more danger and brings it onto the compound once they return.

Alice Faye only made a handful of non-musicals, and her dramatic abilities were mixed at best. Still, I'd rather see her in this role than fellow Fox ingénue Loretta Young because it gave Alice something quiet different to do. At least my feelings about her performance concerning the lousy Russian accent were alleviated by her disclosure of who she really was, and she gives a performance both feisty and feminine, playing a heroine you really can root for. She's reunited with her "King of Burlesque" co-star Warner Baxter who is outstanding in this role, playing a world-weary character who still has a few tricks up his sleeves, even though they were obviously covered by a flask.

Charles Winninger, one of the best character actors Hollywood has ever known, plays a truly likable character here, a "forgotten man", as the assistant Secretary of State calls him. He's the personification of gentility and dignity, heading towards possible death as he goes out during the middle of a battle to raise the American flag as he has done for decades in this American Embassy office in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, to dilute Willie Fung's embarrassing portrayal, there is the young Keye Luke to bring in a bit of intelligence as a younger Asian man on Winninger's staff. The battle scenes between the rebels and those in Winninger's compound are pretty intense, and the scene where those hiding from the rebels are on the verge of being discovered thanks to the presence of a screaming kid.

While there are a few elements of this Fox "B" film which raise eyebrows, there are plenty more elements which keep the film moving and ultimately make it quite enjoyable. Yes, there were films made about the events which lead up to a second world war that were certainly better as far as reality was concerned, but some of them were not nearly as entertaining as this. Fortunately, at a short running time, this doesn't outstay its welcome, and the whole film wraps up with a thrilling ending that will leave you maybe not cheering but at least smiling.

In a remote American consulate in China a drunken journalist Hank Topping and a woman Emmy Jordan with a mysterious past are marooned and end up helping the consul and defending the compound from the local bandits. (Or were they freedom fighters?) (Or were they Nationalists?) The second half of the film has more action than the first but overall I found it unexciting, particularly dragged down by the romance between Hank and Emmy. Their dialogue together aims for lively wit but falls flat. Warner Baxter as Topping is dull and Alice Faye as Emmy unfortunately has a role beyond her acting ability. (That Russian accent!) Arthur Treacher as Upton Ward is wasted in his brief appearances. The film does have Charles Winninger as the consul Samuel Cady and Keye Luke as his secretary Ling to add a bit of class in the acting department. Karl Freund was the director of photography and makes the movie look good.

There are some familiar Asian-American actors that are always welcome to see in an older movie like Willie Fung, Richard Loo, Victor Sen Yung, Philip Ahn and his brother Philson Ahn. Fine fellows all.