Fri 28 Nov 2008
Movie Review – BETRAYAL FROM THE EAST (1945).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , Suspense & espionage films[3] Comments
BETRAYAL FROM THE EAST. RKO Radio Pictures, 1945. Lee Tracy, Nancy Kelly, Richard Loo, Regis Toomey, Philip Ahn, (Victor) Sen Yung, Drew Pearson. Based on the non-fiction book by Alan Hynd. Director: William Berke.
This wartime almost-pure propaganda movie is no longer easy to find. It was released on video cassette but not (so far) on DVD, and the now out-of-print VHS tape (shown) seems to command high prices. I taped my copy from American Movie Classics, sometime B.C. (before commercials), but maybe, just maybe, its staunch anti-Japanese sentiment is part of the reason it seems to have slipped out of sight.
Drew Pearson, one of the most famous newspapermen of the day, appears as himself at the beginning and end of the film, warning heavily against fifth columnists in general and Japanese spies in particular. Considering the relocation camps that Japanese-Americans were forcibly moved to during World War II — but later repudiated in 1980 as “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership” — it is difficult to view this movie in an purely entertainment mode today.
And in fact, it wasn’t intended to be then, and with the passage of years, it’s certainly not meant to be today. Which is not to say that this movie doesn’t have moments that are worth watching. Nearly ninety minutes long, the film’s production values are a step above the B-movies being made at the same time, and with a little tweaking of the story, dropping Drew Pearson’s role, and tweaking some more, it could have been another Across the Pacific. But they didn’t, and it isn’t.
Lee Tracy as Eddie Carter, now out of the army and low on funds, is tempted by a Japanese friend into making a few dollars, but when he discovers that what’s wanted are plans for defending the Panama Canal, he has second thoughts about what he’s gotten himself into.
Also taking an interest is Peggy Harrison (Nancy Kelly), a slim and pretty brunette who manages to work up an acquaintance with Carter, an acquaintance that quickly becomes more than that.
Tracy was much older than Kelly at the time, 47 to her 24 (and pudgier) and the love affair doesn’t set off any sparks as far as I was concerned, although I could see the attraction she has for him. Even with a couple of nifty plot turns, the whole affair is about as ham-handed as this, made with good intentions at the time, perhaps, but in retrospect, no.
April 12th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Steve –
I recently happened to catch a short portion of this film while visiting Seattle’s Wing Luke Asian Museum. It was part of their “Yellow Terror” exhibit. Was wondering if you could confirm for me that the plans for the Panama Canal that Lee Tracy (I think it was his character) looks at while in the ship cabin say “The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California” on them? As I said, I only caught this as a melange of several propaganda films and I couldn’t wait to see it rerun again (had to catch a plane), so I only saw it for a few seconds. Of course, MWD has nothing to do with the Panama Canal, but if I saw correctly, it looks like they used the plans for MWD’s water system as a convenient replacement. Thanks for any help you can be in confirming this.
Amy
4/12/10
April 12th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Amy
I’ll bet almost anything you’re right. Even in 1945 they weren’t going to put anything on the screen that could help the Japanese.
But my copy of this movie, which surfaced long enough for me to watch it and write up my review, has submerged again (metaphorically speaking) in one of several large boxes of old VHS tapes. If I’m lucky, I might find it in a day or so; if I’m not, I’m going to be wondering now as much as you are…
— Steve
November 5th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Just saw this movie.. I know, 9 months too late.. Anyways, The water system blueprints Tracy finds was with a number of other blueprints and maps and other items that the Japanese mastermind had in a trunk in his room. The Panama Canal plans Tracy gave to the Japs were outdated ones.
I hope I finally made you able to sleep better.