Secret Agent of Japan is a 1942 film directed by Irving Pichel and starring Preston Foster. It was the first American anti-Japanese war film produced by a major studio after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Plot
A nightclub owner in Shanghai becomes involved in espionage revolving around preparations for the attack.
Cast
- Preston Foster as James Carmichael, alias Roy Bonnell
- Lynn Bari as Kay Murdock
- Noel Madison as Isoda Saito
- Victor Sen Yung as Fu Yen
- Janis Carter as Doris Poole
- Steven Geray as Mulhauser, alias Constantin Alexandri
- Kurt Katch as Traeger
- Addison Richards as Detective Remsen
- Ian Wolfe as Capt. Karl Larsen
- Hermine Sterler as Frau Mulhauser
- Selmer Jackson as American Naval Captain
- Frank Puglia as Victor Eminescu
- Leyland Hodgson as English Secret Service
- Leslie Denison as English Secret Service
- Jean Del Val as Pierre Solaire
Critical reception
The film drew mixed reviews from critics. Theodore Strauss of New York Times panned the film, calling it "a very mild hate-brew" and "third-rate drama", and stating, "Nowadays, we doubt whether anybody, even Hirohito, will be much excited".[2] Variety wrote that "the picture doesn't achieve more than moderately entertaining proportions for the adult ... Foster and Miss Bari show off excellently, though some of the supporting parts are pretty awful."[3] Film Daily called it "a rousing melodrama" but found the twists and turns of the plot confusing.[4] Harrison's Reports wrote: "An engrossing espionage melodrama that is timely. The story value is good, and competent direction and excellent performances help maintain the interest throughout."[5]
The film seems to "have legs", though, as it scores a 6.9/10 stars on IMDB (see link below).
References
- ^ "March 21, 1942". The Second World War - A Day By Day Account. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- ^ T.S. (March 23, 1942). "Secret Agent of Japan (1942)". New York Times.
- ^ "Film Reviews". Variety. New York: Variety, Inc. March 11, 1942. p. 8.
- ^ "Reviews of the New Films". Film Daily. New York: Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc.: 4 March 16, 1942.
- ^ "'Secret Agent of Japan' with Preston Foster and Lynn Bari". Harrison's Reports: 44. March 14, 1942.
External links
- Secret Agent of Japan at IMDb
- Secret Agent of Japan at the TCM Movie Database
- Secret Agent of Japan at AllMovie
