Pasaporte a China

"Visa to Canton", or "Passport for China" if you prefer, is a 1960 produced Hammer Film, that I watched along with the "House of Hammer" podcast. Generally, I thought it was alright, but there's some unfortunate aspects now, and a slightly underwhelming plot, that let it down.

Don Benton (Richard Basehart) is a travel agent in Hong Kong, organising passage and access for people around the region. Following a plane crash, he's approached by the CIA to try and retrieve an American downed in communist China. He refuses, but then relents when he discovers that the pilot was his 'brother', Jimmy (Burt Kwouk) from the family he lived with, having been shot down, during the War. With the help of Ivano Kang (Eric Pohlmann) Benton heads for the mainland to attempt to find the plane.

So, it's hard in this day and age not to start with the fact that his film has several actors, who aren't Asian, playing Chinese characters. The most egregious example is Athene Seyler whose very much English, as Moa Tai Tai - matriarch of the family at the heart of the film. Whilst I wouldn't say it's white saviour story, I would also say there's real white saviour vibes from it - as Benton is waited on hand and food by the submissive women that work for him at the travel agency.

The film also has Bernard Cribbins playing a Portuguese character though admitted that is more funny than anything else.

I'd say that I was on my way to enjoying the film though. There's a bit of a boy's own adventure section as he heads into China and dodges soldiers whilst trying to get to Jimmy. Then there's some proto "James Bond" intrigue as he meets an attractive woman and various foreign agents. From there though it all rather just drifts away to not much, as his escape with Lolo, which should be the bulk of the third act is over too quickly.

I've watched films for this podcast that I haven't found as easy to watch as this one - but it's too slight and the ending too underwhelming to really recommend.