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 (archived version)