After watching this because of the stars in the cast I thought it strange that it contains film noir elements in an early 1940s WWll propaganda movie. Then I see that it was made in 1949? So it's a B action studio film stocked with numerous stars? Maybe? I don't know.
Lot's of heroes and stereotype villains. Fist fights a plenty. Silly plot twists. Man the Japanese soldiers are stupid.
James Stewart seems miscast but I loved his scenes with John Hodiak. JS spends the whole movie bumming and lighting cigarettes that he doesn't smoke? At times he lights them and then puts them out? Constant making and pouring of coffee that isn't drank? The rest of the film he plays the abused actor victim of Spencer Tracy who does incredible tricks to steal every scene. During one JS monologue Tracy removes his neck tie with great difficulty! In another he belches! Tracy walks around while looking at the floor playing with things in his hands or scratching his face and ears. Very distracting. Hard for me to watch most Spencer Tracy films.
The large cast of misfits clown for the camera in typical 1940s fashion. Not quite a Bowery Boys movie but silly to watch. Unattractive bad girl plays prostitute with a heart. Why not have a pretty girl in this role?
In closing a good watch for a fan of Hollywood studio 1940s films but except for the big stars a waste of time.
Lot's of heroes and stereotype villains. Fist fights a plenty. Silly plot twists. Man the Japanese soldiers are stupid.
James Stewart seems miscast but I loved his scenes with John Hodiak. JS spends the whole movie bumming and lighting cigarettes that he doesn't smoke? At times he lights them and then puts them out? Constant making and pouring of coffee that isn't drank? The rest of the film he plays the abused actor victim of Spencer Tracy who does incredible tricks to steal every scene. During one JS monologue Tracy removes his neck tie with great difficulty! In another he belches! Tracy walks around while looking at the floor playing with things in his hands or scratching his face and ears. Very distracting. Hard for me to watch most Spencer Tracy films.
The large cast of misfits clown for the camera in typical 1940s fashion. Not quite a Bowery Boys movie but silly to watch. Unattractive bad girl plays prostitute with a heart. Why not have a pretty girl in this role?
In closing a good watch for a fan of Hollywood studio 1940s films but except for the big stars a waste of time.