Secret Agent of Japan

I viewed this movie for the first time today and thought it was a fast moving little thriller.The acting was very good by Lynn Bari and Preston Foster. All of the supporting actors also did an admirable job.

This film takes place just prior the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor with a beautiful woman named "Kate Murdoch" (Lynn Bari) casually walking into a place called "the Dixie Bar" in Shanghai. Her interest appears to be in purchasing some jade from a man named "Captain Larsen" (Ian Wolfe) but it becomes quite clear that there is something unusual about this transaction due to the amount of interest being shown by certain other shady characters within the bar. To make matters even more complicated a Japanese gambler by the name of "Saito" (Noel Madison) wants to purchase the bar even though the owner, "Roy Bonnell" (Preston Foster) has no interest in selling it. What Roy doesn't realize is the methods Saito is prepared to utilize in order to get what he wants. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a nifty little spy drama which the producer (Darryl Zanuck) managed to rush into production quickly after Pearl Harbor to maximize potential interest. Although the cast isn't that great both Lynn Bari and Preston Foster manage to make the most of out of their characters to enhance what otherwise would have been a routine grade-B film. Slightly above average.

Leonard Maltin reviews this picture in his Classic Movie Guide. He missed it altogether but, hey, nobody's perfect. By his description it is a "dated espionage film"...and he's right - it is. It was released in 1942, which makes it 73 years old, but his 3-line synopsis doesn't do it justice.

There are several similarities to "Casablanca" that nobody has mentioned yet. The main character (Preston Foster) is an American expatriate who owns a bar, although this time in Shanghai. Customers of all stripes come and go; some are suspicious, some not. Of course, there are shady goings-on, or else what's the point of making the movie. A voluptuous woman (Lynn Bari) slinks in one night and asks suspicious questions. Her presence triggers some of the local baddies into action. He is attracted to her and his curiosity is aroused. There follows non-stop action as the Japanese close in on the both of them. It is tense and gripping and the 72 minutes flies by, and at break-neck speed.

Can't tell you how rewarding it is to watch an unknown movie and get a big payoff. There wasn't a bad acting job in the lot, and the taut direction was by actor-director Irving Pichel, who directed many unknown gems like this one. If you like well-done spy pictures, this one is for you. Try and see it if you can.