Fifteen years after loosing the opportunity to be Scarlet to Clark Gable's Rhett, Susan Hayward gets him in the far east of Shanghai as opposed to the South East of Atlanta. She's a no-nonsense American woman who comes to China to find her missing adventurer husband with tough guy Gable's help. Of course, they clash at first as he makes a pass, she calls him on it and he ends up rescuing her anyway. Adventure at sea leads them to the missing husband, played by Michael Rennie, and a shoot-out leads to the inevitable conclusion of whom Hayward chooses.
This is a familiar tale of "King Solomon's Mines" similarity taking it to another exotic place and adding on flashy Cinemascope Technicolor photography to make it even more splashy. Gable and Hayward are an exciting team, and I am surprised that they only did one film together. Their chemistry is undeniable. The film delves into the darkness of life in a world far beyond our comprehension, showing some rather sordid treatment of women in this mysterious world. An Anna May Wong look-alike is abused by her obvious lover, watches him get beaten up by Gable, then rushes to his side to wash the blood and sweat off his brow while telling Gable what he needs to know. Hayward is particularly sweet in a scene where she encounters one of Gable's foster children, an adorable young boy who is fascinated by American cowboys.
Veteran actress Anna Sten, who had a brief career as a leading lady in the 1930's before Box Office Poison did her in, has a nice supporting role here as a shady lady whom even the trashiest of men ignore. Gene Barry plays a rather shady character whom Hayward encounters on her arrival, reminding me of a slightly younger Gilbert Roland. Fortunately, the Asian stereotypes are minimal, so there is only a little that may offend. But with its familiar plot only moved to a different location, the predictability is obvious, and that lessens its impact.
This is a familiar tale of "King Solomon's Mines" similarity taking it to another exotic place and adding on flashy Cinemascope Technicolor photography to make it even more splashy. Gable and Hayward are an exciting team, and I am surprised that they only did one film together. Their chemistry is undeniable. The film delves into the darkness of life in a world far beyond our comprehension, showing some rather sordid treatment of women in this mysterious world. An Anna May Wong look-alike is abused by her obvious lover, watches him get beaten up by Gable, then rushes to his side to wash the blood and sweat off his brow while telling Gable what he needs to know. Hayward is particularly sweet in a scene where she encounters one of Gable's foster children, an adorable young boy who is fascinated by American cowboys.
Veteran actress Anna Sten, who had a brief career as a leading lady in the 1930's before Box Office Poison did her in, has a nice supporting role here as a shady lady whom even the trashiest of men ignore. Gene Barry plays a rather shady character whom Hayward encounters on her arrival, reminding me of a slightly younger Gilbert Roland. Fortunately, the Asian stereotypes are minimal, so there is only a little that may offend. But with its familiar plot only moved to a different location, the predictability is obvious, and that lessens its impact.