A Yank on the Burma Road

This multi-titled film is part comedy, part propaganda. It is probably a bit strong to call it a romantic comedy because the romancing is strictly one-sided, and the damsel is actually a married woman.

It starts with a robbery turned murder in public, and while the police are out looking for the bad guys, who have been clearly identified, a taxi driver drives up to police headquarters and nonchalantly hands them over trussed up like chickens. This leads to both instant fame and to a Chinese humanitarian outfit recruiting him to lead an aid convoy into dangerous territory.

There are roadblocks rather than adventures on the way, until the final scene which is where the propaganda is at its most obvious. Difficult to believe this was made during the Second World War. And even more difficult to believe that America and China were once allies.

A New York City cabby gets to lead a caravan of medical supplies up the Burma Road to Chungking for the Chinese Five Brothers Society. History testifies that more than medicine was delivered by these runs, most likely fuel and ammunition were common. However, the American role in World War Two China was not clearly defined until the Declaration of War on Japan in December of 1941, so, like the Flying Tigers, the convoys were, until then, sort of official-unofficial adventures. At face value, at least, this film claims humanitarian ends. Cabby Joe Tracey must negotiate dangerous mountain roads during a gasoline shortage, and deal with a determined Laraine Day as well. Can he survive it all? One thing is certain: New York was never like this.

From the magnificent collection of war time films, comes this jovial story of an American cabby, Joe Tracey (Barry Nelson) who without too much effort, manages to capture single handedly, two notorious hoodlums. In doing so, he is instantly catapulted to national fame. One of the effects of such fame is that he is sought out by Dr. Franklin Ling (Phillip Ahn) and other Chinesse patriots Kim How (Keye Luke) who engage him to lead a convoy of trucks across the old Burma Road. Once there he is beset with a number of problems, least of which are the invading Japanese, little fuel, blown bridges and a fair damsel in distress. Mrs. Gail Farwood (Laraine Day). The movie is standard for the pre-war years and formulated to entice America to join the war. Shown in Black and White, the film is subtly propaganda in nature and sympathetic to the Chinese people's plight. Mr. Nelson is stereotypical of the American hero and is convincing in character.If one enjoys the film, then it's message has been conveyed. ***

MGM's B picture unit apparently got this one out in a hurry to take advantage of the anger over the Pearl Harbor attack. According to A Yank On The Burma Road, Barry Nelson led the first counterattack after Pearl Harbor and it was in China.

This film casts Nelson as a cabdriver who after capturing some New York gangsters singlehanded accepts an offer from the Kuomintang of Nationalist China to head a convoy of supplies on the Burma Road from Rangoon to the wartime capital of Chungking. As if his exploits as a New York cabdriver qualified him for such a position.

At the same time Laraine Day is Rangoon inquiring after her husband Stuart Crawford whom she is shocked to learn is a mercenary flying for the Japanese. I'm unaware that the Japanese or any of the Axis powers hired out mercenaries, that sure hasn't come down in history. She tricks Nelson into taking her along to Chungking.

It's a job to Nelson, but as he makes the trip he starts admiring the Chinese for their fortitude. And when news of Pearl Harbor hits, he gets in the first licks for America.

Until the Doolittle Tokyo Raid, the American public festered for news that we hit back after Pearl Harbor. If they couldn't get real news then they settled for some vicarious counterattacks which movies like A Yank On The Burma Road provided.

This is one creaky old propaganda flick that hasn't stood up well at all.

Barry Nelson, a hero cabby from NY who single handedly captures a couple of desperate thugs, accepts an offer to lead a convoy of trucks over the Burma Road for the Chinese government. Along the way he gets entangled in a romance with lovely Laraine Day, who finds she is married to a traitorous heel who has been flying for the Japanese. Phew! What a plot! Altogether, an entertaining, patriotic bit of propaganda that was a product of it's times. However, even given the patriotic fervor of the early war years, Barry Nelson's performance was really way over the top. He was so animated, in certain scenes, he appeared to be making faces! This type of film does not appeal to everyone ... but, if you enjoy them you will want to try "The Purple Heart" and "The First Yank in Tokyo". Same formula - same POV.