A Reel Retro Review: CHINA (1943)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

Reel Speak has been celebrating this month’s 40^th anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK by looking at the films that inspired the globe-trotting, hat-wearing archeologist. When creators George Lucas and Steven Spielberg were in the early stages of discovering Indiana Jones, they held two screenings for their production crew. One was for SECRET OF THE INCAS from 1954 (reviewed by Reel Speak HERE), and the other was the 1943 drama, CHINA. 

 

In 1941 China, in the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, American oil salesman David Jones (Alan Ladd), and his partner Johnny Sparrow (William Bendix), being a long trek across country to close a deal, while trying to stay neutral during China’s war with Japan. 

 

Based on the unproduced play Fourth Brother by Archibald Forbes and directed by John Farrow, CHINA follows Jones and Sparrow as they try to make money during a war; a war that their own country has yet to join. Things are complicated when Sparrow rescues a young boy from a bombing raid, and even more complicated when they encounter Carolyn Grant (Loretta Young); a schoolteacher who just wants to make the world a better place. The trio, along with the orphan boy, truck their way across the country while avoiding bombing runs and helping the occasional group of refugees. 

 

Although a little light on plot, CHINA works by way of its strongly drawn characters. Jones is determined to stay out of the war and just sell his oil, while Carolyn looks to preserve China’s legacy and education by saving as many refugees as she can. It’s a strong conflict of character that keeps things moving. Director John Farrow spends a lot of time with his characters, but still finds time to put together some stunning action scenes for its time. CHINA also doesn’t pull any punches in its depiction of war; a dead child and a rape scene offering some well-earned shock value…along with a brutal ending. CHINA was filmed and released during WWII, and it does feature a little bit of flag-waving for the American fighting spirit. 

 

The cast does decent work despite how broadly their characters are drawn. Alan Ladd is a bit of a statue and doesn’t give off very much emotion, but that is made up for by Loretta Young…who lights up the screen. 

 

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK didn’t take much from CHINA in plot, but it did find Indy’s costume here as this version of (ahem), Jones does indeed wear a leather jacket, fedora hat, and khaki’s. On top of that, the rescuing of the Chinese orphan child after a bombing seems to be the inspiration for Short Round from INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984). CHINA gave some vital elements to our Dr. Jones, and is one more important piece to one of the greatest films ever to wear a hat. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

Reel Facts: Director John Farrow would win an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1957 for AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. Loretta Young went to television and hosted The Loretta Young Show which ran from 1953 to 1961 and won three Emmy’s. She passed away in the year 2000 at the age of 87.