IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Amid the anarchy of China, an American mercenary tangles with a ruthless warlord.Amid the anarchy of China, an American mercenary tangles with a ruthless warlord.Amid the anarchy of China, an American mercenary tangles with a ruthless warlord.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 1 win & 3 nominations total
Lee Tong Foo
- Mr. Chen
- (as Lee Tung-Foo)
Hans Fuerberg
- Yang's Military Advisor
- (as Hans Furberg)
Irene Bennett
- Passenger
- (uncredited)
Spencer Chan
- Killer
- (uncredited)
Thomas Chan
- Houseboy
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe main character, O'Hara, is based on the real-life adventurer Morris "Two-Gun" Cohen (1887-1970). Born in Poland to a Jewish family, Cohen grew up in the tough streets of London's East End. As a teenager, he moved to western Canada and became a ranch hand and gambler in Saskatchewan, and later a highly successful real-estate agent in Alberta. During World War I he fought in Europe with the Canadian Railway Troops. His friendship with Chinese workers on the Canadian-Pacific Railroad prompted him to go to China in the 1920s. After negotiating a railroad deal with Dr. Yat-sen Sun, Cohen became a personal bodyguard to Sun and a trainer of Sun's private army. After Sun's death in 1925, Cohen ran guns for various Chinese warlords throughout the 1930s. When the Japanese invaded China in 1937, Cohen continued to supply Chinese resistance forces with arms and served with the British SOE. In 1941, following the fall of Hong Kong, he was captured by the Japanese and put in a prison camp, but was traded to the English in 1943 in a rare prisoner exchange. After the war, Cohen continued to operate in China as an agent for various British firms, including Rolls-Royce and Decca Radar. His former dealings with Chinese warlords kept him in good standing with Chinese Communist officials until his death in 1970.
- GoofsWhile arguing with Peter, Judy slams a book down on the desk. A couple of other books on the corner of the desk disappear in a later scene.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits all appear on the sails of boats.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Red Hollywood (1996)
Featured review
I was surprised at the low rating for this film at IMDb, 6.7 as of this writing. I found it a very enjoyable film. I'm a sucker for strong, moody visuals, and this film sure has them. In fact, about half way through I began to wonder, with all the shadows and fishing nets, if this were a Von Sternberg film. The script, which some reviewers found too wordy or too preachy, I found very engaging. The pacing was excellent.
Some reviewers have taken offense at the two main Chinese characters being played by occidentals who spoke pigeon English. Well, that's how films were made back then. Sure it seems unfair to modern viewers. It was unfair. Is that reason to trash the whole film? The Asian actors who had speaking roles came across as intelligent and well spoken.
If you're in the mood for some dark, exotic espionage, I definitely recommend this.
Some reviewers have taken offense at the two main Chinese characters being played by occidentals who spoke pigeon English. Well, that's how films were made back then. Sure it seems unfair to modern viewers. It was unfair. Is that reason to trash the whole film? The Asian actors who had speaking roles came across as intelligent and well spoken.
If you're in the mood for some dark, exotic espionage, I definitely recommend this.
- kalismandaniel
- Oct 5, 2011
- Permalink
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was The General Died at Dawn (1936) officially released in India in English?
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