Blood on the Sun (1945)

Very well executed

Fresh and Exciting

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Producer: William Cagney. Copyright 15 June 1945 by Cagney Produc¬tions, Inc. Released through United Artists. New York opening at the Capitol: 28 June 1945. U.S. release: 15 June 1945. U.K. release: 27 August 1945. Australian release: 27 June 1946. 8,442 feet. 94 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Pre-war Tokyo. Newspaperman uncovers Japanese master plan for world conquest.NOTES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Annual Award for Art Direction (black-and-white), went to Wiard Ihnen, production designer, and A. Roland Fields, set decorator (defeating Experiment Perilous, The Keys of the Kingdom, Love Letters, and The Picture of Dorian Gray).Domestic rental gross: approx. $3.4 million.COMMENT: If ever an award for Art Direction was well-deserved, Blood on the Sun is it. Even the film's billing and publicity people were aware of the art director's contribution. For once, Ihnen receives a single full-frame credit. In point of fact, he prepared a detailed storyboard for the entire picture, indicating all frame arrangements and camera angles. Director Frank Lloyd (who was the Cagneys' second choice when Warners refused to loan out Michael Curtiz) followed Ihnen's plans scrupulously, - from the opening one-take action shot of the riot outside the newspaper office to the dazzling crane shot through the pier pylons at the climax. The sets hit the eyes with such a marvelously dramatic impact, that the ears take little notice of the nonsensical story and the ridiculous posturing of familiar Occidental players pretending to be Japanese.Aside from its vivid, powerful sets, however, Blood on the Sun is very much a product of its period. Collectors of naively racist philosophy will have a field day here. Particularly noteworthy is Cagney's final line: "Love your enemies? But first - get even!" Cagney's own performance sums up this credo as he wrestles and judos his way through hordes of Japanese, proving the superiority of the white to the yellow warrior - much to the delight of his fans. Unfortunately, the rest of the players are either weighed down by their make-up or overawed by the fist-popping Cagney. Only Leonard Strong as a not over bright Secret Service agent ("We took our families to see the cherry blossoms!") makes any impression.The other major feature of Blood on the Sun is Miklos Rozsa's tingling music score - which should have been nominated for an award but wasn't. Rozsa did win for Spellbound, but in my opinion Blood on the Sun is at least equally exciting and dramatic. All Rozsa fans should definitely invest in a sound track of this one as well.

Set in 1920s Japan James Cagney plays newspaperman Nick Condon. He has offended the Japanese authorities by publishing an article suggesting that Japan has plans to attack China and ultimately the United States and when he is given a document, which implicates Premier Tanaka and his underling Colonel Tojo, that seems to prove this his life is in danger; two people have already died while trying to get it out of the country. They send Iris Hilliard, a half Chinese woman to try to trick him into handing over the document… but he no longer has it and has no idea who does have it!Made in 1945 it isn't surprising that the Japanese are depicted in a negative way but they could have been a lot worse; not all of them are portrayed as being bent on world domination. James Cagney does a solid enough job as Condon and Sylvia Sidney was okay as Iris… although she didn't look half Chinese and romance between her and Cagney isn't the most believable on screen. There isn't much action but there fight scene at the end is pretty good; its scrappiness making it more believable than an obviously choreographed fight would be. As the finale approaches the tension rises as at times it looks as if our hero could die for his course. Overall this isn't a classic Cagney film but it is enjoyable enough.

Garrett Fort wrote this interesting story about an America journalist working in Pre-war Japan. Because he is well known reporter his contrive and fabricated article revealing secret invasion plans is seen as a plot against Americas. Jimmy Cagney plays Nick Condon a fast-talking plain spoken Newspaperman who is soon targeted as a threat to Japanese politicians and is marked to be kidnapped and killed. However, the plotters need to retrieve a secret document in his possession. Sylvia Sidney plays Iris Hilliard a double agent out to confuse both sides. Interestingly enough, viewers get to see Robert Armstrong who once headlined the movie 'King Kong' playing the heavy Col. Hideki Tojo. The movie is in Black and white and despite it's standard formula set in the 1940's, the movie plays out for interesting fare. Pay close attention to the Judo fight scene in which Cagney does his own stunts and his opponent is in real life his Judo instructor. A fine movie for fans of the late Jimmy Cagney. ***

American newspaperman in Toyko Nick Condon (James Cagney) valiantly struggles against the dictatorial rule within 1940s Japan hoping to get back to the American public proof of a secret plan made by the Japanese government to attack the United States on a mission of world conquest. Action and intrigue follows as the Japanese secret police try to stop Condon from getting the truth out.To put it simply, this is thoroughly enjoyable escapist fare. Sure it's hardly convincing in a number of areas (Sylvia Sidney as an Half-Chinese double agent, Cagney's ability to outwit and toy with the secret police, etc.) but that sure doesn't stop it from being endearing. Sidney and Cagney do have remarkable romantic chemistry whenever they appear on screen together. If you enjoyed romantic war-time escapist thrillers like ACROSS THE PACIFIC and CASABLANCA, you should enjoy this one too. Me, I loved it!