Tokyo Joe (1949)
In the beginning of this drama, Humphrey Bogart returns to his home in Tokyo after the end of WWII, his Japanese friend changes his behavior and starts acting like a houseboy, afraid that the war has changed relations between them. While Humph quips, “So you’re the guy who thought up that whole Pearl Harbor thing?” and makes his pal smile, it wasn’t as easy for folks in the audience to get over their prejudices. Had the entire movie been about race relations for an American living in post-war Tokyo, it would have been really interesting. Unfortunately, most of the film was about Humph trying to win back his pre-war wife whom he thought had died. Florence Marly thought Humph had abandoned her, and in her grief, she divorced him and married the wealthy, kind Alexander Knox. When Humph finds out he has a daughter, he vows to do anything he can to get his family back.
I always like seeing Sessue Hayakawa, since he usually chose meaningful roles in important post-war movies. And while I appreciate seeing Humph in one of his non-trench coat roles, the movie wasn’t as good as I’d been hoping for with such a promising start. It was more of a romance than I would have liked, but at least a bit of a message was inserted into the screenplay.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Matt Byrne" for posting!
More Whit Bissell movies here!
I always like seeing Sessue Hayakawa, since he usually chose meaningful roles in important post-war movies. And while I appreciate seeing Humph in one of his non-trench coat roles, the movie wasn’t as good as I’d been hoping for with such a promising start. It was more of a romance than I would have liked, but at least a bit of a message was inserted into the screenplay.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Matt Byrne" for posting!
More Whit Bissell movies here!