Blood on the Sun
| Video Review
|
 |
| Title: |
Blood on the Sun |
| Publisher: |
Mastertone Multimedia,
MN |
| Format:
|
DVD |
| Rated:
|
NR |
| Reviewed By: |
Frank Fogg |
| Review Date: |
June, 2003 |
| Rating: |
|
Blood on the Sun is the Japan-bashing
tale of an American newspaperman in Tokyo during the late 1920's. This is black
and white DVD feature in the English language.
Working as the managing editor of the Tokyo Chronicle newspaper in Tokyo, Nick
Condon (Jimmy Cagney) is constantly butting heads with the Japanese government
by printing stories about the beating drums of war in the Imperial hierarchy.
One particularly damaging story lands him in hot water and leads to a personal
meeting with Baron Giichi Tanaka and General Hideki Tojo. The plot soon gets
darker as his best friend is killed at his doorstep while delivering the secret
and now famous (though apparently forged) Tanaka Memorial describing Japan's
plans for world conquest.
The story quickly leads to a slugfest with Cagney taking on any number of Japanese
police, secret agents and assassins. Of course, the story also includes a beautiful
woman, in this case a half Chinese - half Japanese beauty (played by Sylvia
Sidney.) Although historical accuracy is not the highpoint of this feature,
it is still fun to watch. Initially released in 1945 when hatred of Japan was
at a fever pitch, the character stereotypes run amok and now seem almost comical.
A few twists of the plot at the end keep the movie from being entirely predictable.
For those wishing to see the view of the war from the perspective of an earlier
generation of moviemakers, this melodrama will be a perfect example. Fans of
Jimmy Cagney will find him at his toughest in this pre-war spying yarn.
