''China Passage'' is a 1937 American

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, i ...

directed by Edward Killy from a screenplay by

Edmund L. Hartmann Edmund L. Hartmann (September 24, 1911 – November 28, 2003) was a film and television writer and producer from the 1930s to the 1970s. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Washington University in St. Louis. He later married and ...

and J. Robert Bren, based on a story by Taylor Caven. RKO Radio Pictures produced the film, which stars

Constance Worth Constance Worth (born Enid Joyce Howarth; 19 August 1911 – 18 October 1963) was an Australian actress who became a Hollywood star in the late 1930s. She was also known as Jocelyn Howarth. Early life and career She was born in Sydney, Austral ...

, Vinton Haworth,

Leslie Fenton Leslie Fenton (12 March 1902 – 25 March 1978) was an English actor and film director. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1945. Early life Fenton was born on 12 March 1902 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He emigrated to ...

and Gordon Jones. Haworth was injured in an automobile accident in January 1937, delaying the film's released until March 12, 1937.

Plot

Tom Baldwin and Joe Dugan are two American adventurers who are hired to escort the wife of a Chinese general to Shanghai. She is carrying a priceless diamond. Upon their arrival at the destination, there is a firefight, during which the diamond is stolen. The two Americans round up a group of suspects, but have no luck uncovering the stolen jewel. Among the suspects are Jane Dunn and Katherine Collins, an author named Anthony Durand and Harvey Dinwiddle. They release the suspects and then make plans to travel to San Francisco. When they board the ship, they are surprised to find that all of the suspects are also aboard the same boat. Baldwin and Dugan resume their search for the diamond and soon discover that Jane is actually an American

customs agent ''Customs Agent'' is a 1950 American thriller film directed by Seymour Friedman and starring William Eythe, Marjorie Reynolds and Griff Barnett.Blottner p.263 Synopsis In Shanghai an American customs agent tries to track down a drug-smuggling o ...

who is also trying to find the jewel. As their search continues, Baldwin and Jane fall in love. After their room is tossed, Dugan is killed. Katherine is an insurance investigator who has uncovered some information, but she is killed before she can pass that information on to Jane and Baldwin. Baldwin is framed for Katherine's murder, but Jane solves the diamond's theft and the murders, revealing that Durand and his henchman Dinwiddle are the perpetrators. Baldwin and Jane are married by the ship's captain.

Cast

as Jane Dunn * Vinton Haworth as Tom Baldwin *

as Anthony Durand * Gordon Jones as Joe Dugan *

Alec Craig Alexander Younger Craig (30 March 1884 – 25 June 1945) was a Scottish-born American character actor, particularly known for his roles in ''Mutiny on the Bounty'' (1935) and ''National Velvet'' (1944). He was particularly known for portraying ...

as Harvey Dinwiddle *

Dick Elliott Richard Damon Elliott (April 30, 1886 – December 22, 1961) was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death. Early years Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Career Elliott p ...

as Philip Burton *

Frank M. Thomas Frank Marion Thomas (July 13, 1889 – November 25, 1989) was an American character actor of stage, screen and television. He and his wife, actress Mona Bruns, both lived to 100 years old. He died the day before her 90th birthday; she died 11 y ...

as Captain Williams * George Irving as Dr. Sibley *

Billy Gilbert William Gilbert Barron (September 12, 1894 – September 23, 1971), known professionally as Billy Gilbert, was an American actor and comedian. He was known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects ...

as Bartender *

Joyce Compton Olivia Joyce Compton (January 27, 1907 – October 13, 1997) was an American actress. Biography Compton was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Golden Compton. (Despite frequent reports to the contrary, her name was not ...

as Mrs. Katharine Collins *

Philip Ahn Philip Ahn (born Pillip Ahn (), March 29, 1905 – February 28, 1978) was an American actor and activist of Korean descent. With over 180 film and television credits between 1935 and 1978, he was one of the most recognizable and prolific Asi ...

as Dr. Feng Tu *

Lotus Long Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

as Lia Sen *

Huntley Gordon Huntley Ashworth Gordon (October 8, 1879 – December 7, 1956) was a Canadian actor who began his career in the Silent Film era. Profile Gordon was born in Montreal, Quebec, educated in both Canada and England. He had various jobs including w ...

as Arthur Trent *

Edgar Dearing Edgar Dearing (May 4, 1893 – August 17, 1974) was an American actor who became heavily type cast as a motorcycle cop in Hollywood films. Biography Born in 1893, Dearing started in silent comedy shorts for Hal Roach, including several with La ...

as Bill * Lotus Liu as Yo Ling *

Tetsu Komai (23 April 1894 – 10 August 1970), also known as Tetsuo Komai, was a Japanese-American actor, known for his minor roles in Hollywood films. Biography Born in Kumamoto, Kyushu, Komai had small parts in over 50 films from the 1920s until the ...

as Wong *

Moy Ming Moy may refer to: Places * Loch Moy, a loch south of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland ** Moy, Highland, a village beside Loch Moy ** Moy Hall, also near the loch and the ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan Mackintosh ** Rout of Moy, an ...

as Chang *

William Corson William Corson (December 23, 1909 – January 28, 1981) was an American film actor. Partial filmography *'' Sea Devils'' (1937) - Coast Guard Seaman (uncredited) *''China Passage'' (1937) - Ship's Officer (uncredited) *'' The Woman I Lo ...

as Officer * Alan Curtis as Officer

Production

RKO obtained the rights to Taylor Craven's original story, ''Miss Customs Agent'', in July 1936, and its title was also the film's working title. Edward Killy was assigned to direct the film in mid-October, and filming was slated to begin in mid-November. In the first week of December, it was announced that seven performers had been assigned to the project: Vinton Hayworth, Constance Worth (in her American screen debut), Frank Thomas, Walter Coy, Diana Gibson, Gordon Jones and George Irving. Dick Elliot joined the cast in mid-December, and production began shortly before Christmas. In late December, Joyce Compton joined the cast, and shortly thereafter, the film's title was changed to ''China Passage''. Production was delayed for two weeks at the beginning of 1937 when Vincent Haworth was injured in a car accident on New Year's Day. He was released to return to work on January 12. The film was finished by the end of January 1937, and the editing process began in the first week of February. The film opened on March 12, 1937. After the film premiered, the

National Legion of Decency The National Legion of Decency, also known as the Catholic Legion of Decency, was a Catholic group founded in 1934 by Archbishop of Cincinnati, John T. McNicholas, as an organization dedicated to identifying objectionable content in motion pictur ...

assigned the film an A-1 rating, classifying it as unobjectionable for general audiences.

Reception

The Film Daily ''The Film Daily'' was a daily publication that existed from 1918 to 1970 in the United States. It was the first daily newspaper published solely for the film industry. It covered the latest trade news, film reviews, financial updates, informatio ...

'' fair review called the story "stilted, unoriginal and implausible" and praised only the film's technical aspects of the film. '' Harrison's Reports'' also published a negative review, calling the plot "far-fetched and meaningless" and the comedic portions "tired." However, the review reported that Constance Worth's her acting was "pleasant," as were the romantic interludes between Worth and Vinton Hayworth. ''Motion Picture Daily'' was more positive, writing that the film was "unpretentious" and "moderately entertaining," with Worth "capable" and "attractive" and Leslie Fenton's sinister performance laudable. ''Motion Picture Magazine'' awarded the film two and a half stars (out of four) and complimented the plot and locales while stating that the acting was adequate.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:China Passage 1937 mystery films 1937 films American mystery films RKO Pictures films American black-and-white films Films directed by Edward Killy Films produced by Cliff Reid Films produced by Samuel J. Briskin Films set on ships 1930s American films 1930s English-language films