High Road to China (1983)

During WW1, an alcoholic American biplane pilot is hired by the spoiled daughter of an industrialist to find her father who disappeared in Asia.

Director:

Brian G. Hutton

Writers:

Jon Cleary (novel), Sandra Weintraub (screenplay) (as Sandra Weintraub Roland)

Stars:

Tom Selleck, Bess Armstrong, Jack Weston

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Selleck	...	Patrick O' Malley
Bess Armstrong	...	Eve
Jack Weston	...	Struts
Wilford Brimley	...	Bradley Tozer
Robert Morley	...	Bentik
Brian Blessed	...	Suleman Khan
Cassandra Gava	...	Alessa
Michael Sheard	...	Charlie
Lynda La Plante	...	Lina (as Lynda Marchal)
Timothy Carlton	...	Officer
Shayur Mehta	...	Ahmed
Terry Richards	...	Ginger
Jeremy Child	...	Silversmith
Peter Llewellyn Williams	...	Franjten Khan
Dino Shafeek	...	Satvinda (as Dino Shaffer)

Storyline

A biplane pilot is saddled with a spoiled industrialist's daughter on a search for her missing father through Asia that eventually involves them in a struggle against a Chinese warlord.

---

Plot Keywords:

pilot | missing father | warlord | world war one | country name in title | 

---

Taglines:

Take the high road to adventure!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | War

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The nickname of Eve Tozer (Bess Armstrong) was "Evie". The character is billed in the closing credits only as Eve, even though the character's father is billed as Bradley Tozer (Wilford Brimley).

---

Goofs

In the scene where they escape from the Arab camp, a young Arab man claims he will kill himself if she leaves. Eve screams... well, originally it was just "Men!" and he lips clearly say more. But the sound is blanked out. Otherwise, I guess it would have been a 15!

---

Quotes

Patrick O' Malley: You wrecked my plane!
Eve "Evie" Tozer: It was always a wreck!

---

Connections

Referenced in Psych: Daredevils! (2008)

---

Soundtracks

Souls Approaching
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Albert Woodbury

User Reviews

A Good Old-Fashioned Escape Movie

The best thing about "High Road to China" is that it does not try to change the world by making a social statement. It does not try to do anything but be an escape for moviegoers. Is it a perfect film? No. But this is one of my favorite films because it does just that - it allows me to escape. This much under-appreciated movie tells an excellent story: a rich brat living in the Roaring 20's hires a flying ace to find her father in a remote part of China. From a cinemagraphic point-of-view, it is a very good-looking film. Bess Armstrong never looked better on screen. And although her character of Eve Tozer is not always believable, I liked her as the rich brat who thinks everything has its price. I was never a Tom Selleck fan, but as Patrick O'Malley, he makes the perfect flying daredevil - a hard drinker who has trouble showing that he has a heart. The late Jack Weston, who was one of the better character actors of our modern times, is perfectly cast as the sidekick mechanic Struts. And the late Robert Morley provides good comic relief in the midst of being the heavy.

The movie simply looks good with its gorgeous locations and colors. The flying sequences - especially the dogfight between O'Malley and the German ace (complete with references to the famous Red Baron) is first-rate, and the battle scenes are shot very well. The pace of the film is not always even, but one sequence after another has our protagonists in some dire predicament. And it is fun watching them try and get out of each one. It should have done better at the box office, for the film is still a favorite of cable movie channels and people who discover it on video for the first time. I would recommend this film to anyone, because it is simply a little gem and a wonderful film for movie buffs who wish to escape.

Details

Country:

USA Yugoslavia Hong Kong

Language:

English German

Release Date:

18 March 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cesta do Cíny

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,156,049, 20 March 1983

Gross USA:

$28,445,927

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,445,927

Company Credits

Production Co:

City Films, Golden Harvest Company, Jadran Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1