China Venture

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.