This is How Movies Should Be Made

Sorry, this movie sucks

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Johnny Williams, an American photographer, finds himself a prisoner of the Japanese during the invasion of Burma. With the help of a couple, Weed and Fifi, that are also being held in jail, escape their captors by getting on a small plane parked nearby, after almost being killed by their enemies. Luckily for the trio, Johnny, who is an expert in many things, knows how to fly. The problem, as they try to land in Mandalay, in upper Burma, near the Chinese border, the aircraft, with Japanese markings, is almost shot down.From the moment these three arrive in Mandalay, things begin to change. Not only are the so-called-friends spies for the Japanese, they want to do a number on Johnny. The arrival at their hotel of the exotically beautiful Haoli Young, awakens a passion in Johnny, who falls head over heels with the gorgeous woman. Haoli and her father, want to get to Kunming, in China, where they have established a mission for orphans. Sadly, the Youngs get to their destination, but war in the area comes with a deathly toll for them and their school. Johnny is helpless trying to save the woman he loved.Coming from a writer like Ben Hecht, the film is somewhat disappointing. Not even Henry Hathaway, a good director, was able to make this movie work. The trouble is the way the main characters are conceived. Johnny Williams romance with Haoli doesn't ring true. After only one day, he is madly in love with this woman, ready to do anything to keep her forever. Then there is Fifi, who sees right through Johnny and ends up wanting to have him. It might have worked in the 1940s, but it feels false today. We are not trying to demean what the creators tried to give the public, but much of the story makes no sense.The fun comes in watching George Montgomery's take on Johnny. He was an action hero whose work in films gave him opportunities to display a charming personality. Gene Tierney, on the other hand, seems wooden in her approach to Haoli. She was a lovely woman with a screen presence to match. Lynn Bari, who appears as Fifi, fares better. Her Fifi is a dubious character that feels real. Victor McLaglen, as Weed, has nothing to do. Robert Blake, who was a child actor, turns up as Chandu, the little boy that is befriended by Johnny and acts as his personal accountant.Fans of Henry Hathaway and the stars will enjoy "China Girl" even if it is flawed.

This is an underrated film that has received reviews too dismissing, I feel. I agree with the above reviewer on some of its shortcomings, but would also point out that there is a very nice tension set up between Gene Tierney and Lynn Bari throughout most of the story — which certainly had me watch it through to the very end. Contrary to other opinions, Tierney fans will not be disappointed here, although I agree she doesn't truly shine as in some others; and Lynn Bari is at her best and definitely makes us wish she had been given more prominent parts. Some feel that Bari actually makes this movie, but this may be going too far. Moreover, I don't believe China Girl was ever intended as a war movie per se, rather a drama. The war-scene ending just happens to be the bitter twist that closes what is essentially a war-time drama between a guy and two gals — it's no more complex than that.Also, the camera is no slouch either, in this movie. It has excellent shots in the hotel rooms where much of the action takes place, giving it a somewhat noir feel that definitely generates an overall stylish period polish that is in synch with the true noirs of the period. If you like this style, as I do, China Girl is worth seeking out. One can only hope that it will eventually become part of a Tierny Collection. I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed!

I'm a big fan of George Montgomery films--and he looks rugged & handsome, as always, in this one. Both Gene Tierney & Lynn Bari fall in love with him and, frankly, who can blame them. He plays an American newsreel cameraman in Burma & China just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After escaping from a Japanese prison, he goes to Mandalay where he meets & falls in love with Gene Tierney. He has a booklet containing some vital military info--so there are spy's on his trail. George Montgomery had a long Hollywood career & he was always interesting to watch (and,frankly, I see little comparison between him & Mr. Gable

Probably "China Girl" is a movie for cinephiles (I'm not one of them, though). Hathaway is a high-level film-maker, McLaglen, Montgomery, Lynn Bari, Ruman are gifted and nice actors. The black-and-white photography is beautiful: the scenes inside the colonial hotel are indeed very evocative. Even the plot is better than one may expect and presents a noble finale. At any rate, it is so pleasant to see a film with no beastly violence and trash talk which are routine in current movies. Of course, for us happy people Gene Tierney's fans, the main recommendation for "China Girl" is the presence of our Goddess of Love and Beauty. Beyond her incomparable beauty and loveliness, Gene shows her usual (underrated) talent as an actress: with her sad dreaming eyes, her rare sweet smiles, her refusal to give way to love, even her bravery in sharing her unhappy people's sufferences, she instills in the audience the foreboding of her bitter fate.