China Doll (1958)
3/10
Kind of sappy.
23 October 2012
in beginning, C-47 went from silver with post-war markings to olive with mid-WWII markings.

Batjak--John Wayne's production company interesting to hear Denver Pyle without his put-on Southern accent 86 minute mark--totally random stock footage of airplanes inserted "China Doll" is not a terrible film but it certainly leaves a lot to be desired--particularly if you like war films or know much about WWII airplanes. It's sad, as with a few changes and a better ending, it could have been satisfying.

The film begins in China during WWII. A group of American servicemen are responsible for flying 'the hump'--a journey from India to China to provide war materials for the fight against the Japanese. Victor Mature plays a captain who spends his time flying and drinking. Duirng one of his drinking spells, however, he accidentally purchases a woman. More specifically, she becomes a short-term indentured servant to him. Although it does not happen for some time, you know pretty much that the two will be in love by the end of the film. However, this is a film with LOTS of complications for their love--and the ending certainly won't satisfy romance lovers! See the film and you'll understand.

For me, the sappy and sickly sweet (and difficult to believe) romance was not the major problem. Being a retired history teacher and airplane buff, I was really annoyed by the sloppiness of the use of stock footage of airplanes and air battles. Too often, they were just randomly tossed in and seemed to have no rhyme or reason. In some cases, it was really pretty funny, as the C-47 transport at the beginning of the movie is painted in silver--and it lands painted all in olive drab! Other times, plane types simply change in mid-air! It's all pretty irritating and even non-purists like myself will notice. Sloppy and a film you could easily skip.
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