Post by petrolino on Nov 12, 2017 1:37:50 GMT
In 'Soldier Of Fortune', Jane Hoyt (Susan Hayward) arrives in Hong Kong to search for her missing husband, freelance photojournalist Louis Hoyt (Gene Barry). Jane hopes to gain assistance from diplomat Frank Stewart (Robert Quarry) of the American Consulate and British Marine Commander Inspector Merryweather (Michael Rennie) but she's prepared to go it alone, even to the People's Republic of China if needed. Jane's fortunes appear to rest with a motley crew of local residents she meets in a dangerous section of Hong Kong where Louis used to hang out, until she hears of local big boss Hank Lee (Clark Gable), a wealthy smuggler who can make things happen for a price.
Edward Dmytryk's adventure movie 'Soldier Of Fortune' is based on a novel by sea specialist Ernest Gann who wrote the film's screenplay. It's structured as a colourful character mosaic which is ideal for a technical filmmaker like Dmytryk. Susan Hayward performs with guile and drive as Jane Hoyt, Clark Gable is confident and charismatic as shady player Henry Lee, Gene Barry is suitably impetuous and indignant as Louis, and Michael Rennie performs well under pressure as gunboat captain Inspector Merryweather. The ensemble is fleshed out by lively character turns from Alexander D'Arcy as French-Chinese confidence trickster Rene Dupont Chevalier, Tom Tully as grizzled bar owner Tweedie, Anna Sten as alcoholic lush Madame Dupree, Russell Collins as besotted barfly Icky, Leo Gordon as muscular bouncer Big Matt, George Wallace as macho doorman Gunner, Richard Loo as opportunistic tour guide General Po Lin, Soo Yong as ancient sage Dak Lai, Frances Fong as curiosity shop owner Maxine Chan, Mel Welles as notorious fixer Fernand Rocha and Jack Kruschen as burly businessman Austin Stoker. James Hong, Leon Lontoc and Virginia Lee are said to be somewhere among the many bit part players.
There are some fun scenes in 'Soldier Of Fortune'. I like Madame Dupree's Russian table-top tap dance during a lightning storm, which Dmytryk casually intercuts with a stomping bar brawl triggered by Chevalier. The friendly musical backdrop courtesy of Hugo Friedhofer does ample justice to the scenery which is nicely photographed by Leo Tover. Issues surrounding who exercises jurisdiction over the South China Sea and connected regional waters remain topical. Jane's journey becomes an emotional one as Hank presses her on why she married an immature tomboy for lust rather than a real man for excitement.
"Action films with extreme tension and characters motivated by obsession and neurosis characterize Edward Dmytryk's style."
- William R. Meyer, 'The Film Buff's Catalog'
Clark Gable & Susan Hayward
Edward Dmytryk's adventure movie 'Soldier Of Fortune' is based on a novel by sea specialist Ernest Gann who wrote the film's screenplay. It's structured as a colourful character mosaic which is ideal for a technical filmmaker like Dmytryk. Susan Hayward performs with guile and drive as Jane Hoyt, Clark Gable is confident and charismatic as shady player Henry Lee, Gene Barry is suitably impetuous and indignant as Louis, and Michael Rennie performs well under pressure as gunboat captain Inspector Merryweather. The ensemble is fleshed out by lively character turns from Alexander D'Arcy as French-Chinese confidence trickster Rene Dupont Chevalier, Tom Tully as grizzled bar owner Tweedie, Anna Sten as alcoholic lush Madame Dupree, Russell Collins as besotted barfly Icky, Leo Gordon as muscular bouncer Big Matt, George Wallace as macho doorman Gunner, Richard Loo as opportunistic tour guide General Po Lin, Soo Yong as ancient sage Dak Lai, Frances Fong as curiosity shop owner Maxine Chan, Mel Welles as notorious fixer Fernand Rocha and Jack Kruschen as burly businessman Austin Stoker. James Hong, Leon Lontoc and Virginia Lee are said to be somewhere among the many bit part players.
"Soldier of Fortune, Clark Gable's first movie as an independent freelancer, away from the shackles of his 25-year stint as "King" of MGM - after that studio finally decided (without asking him) that it could do without its moneymaking Rhett Butler and Fletcher Christian and let him go. Twentieth Century-Fox was trying out its new CinemaScope process in a variety of locations, and here Gable finds himself in Hong Kong as a smuggler, hired to locate Susan Hayward's husband Gene Barry, who's either dead or over in Red China, or both. Skilled director Edward Dmytryk makes this melodramatic tosh seem extremely exciting, and Gable and Hayward strike suitably starry sparks from each other."
- Tony Sloman, 'The Radio Times'
- Tony Sloman, 'The Radio Times'
"Technical skill counts for nothing if it is used only to manufacture films which have little to do with humanity."
- Edward Dmytryk, They Shoot Pictures Don't They
- Edward Dmytryk, They Shoot Pictures Don't They
James Cagney & Susan Hayward
There are some fun scenes in 'Soldier Of Fortune'. I like Madame Dupree's Russian table-top tap dance during a lightning storm, which Dmytryk casually intercuts with a stomping bar brawl triggered by Chevalier. The friendly musical backdrop courtesy of Hugo Friedhofer does ample justice to the scenery which is nicely photographed by Leo Tover. Issues surrounding who exercises jurisdiction over the South China Sea and connected regional waters remain topical. Jane's journey becomes an emotional one as Hank presses her on why she married an immature tomboy for lust rather than a real man for excitement.
