PRC in choosing a title for the film used the exact meaning of words. Our
protagonist Alan Baxter is not a prisoner in Japan. But he's a prisoner nonetheless. He's under house arrest on his little plantation in a south sea island that is occupied but not openly by the Japanese.
It suits their purposes that way. Baxter is the son of a noted astronomer and one
himself, but he's given way to drink and dissipation and he makes a convenient
front for their espionage. Especially with that observatory dear old dad built.
Just right for keeping track of American naval traffic and air traffic.
If that wasn't enough the Japanese pretending to be islanders have a nice little
cafe with a dragon lady type operator who gently pumps navy people for
information. Loose lips do sink ships in this film.
A visit by old friend Gertrude Michael persuades Baxter of his patriotic obligations. I think you can figure out the rest.
Doing this PRC flag waver must have really reminded both Baxter and Michael
of better days. Baxter's career role was in Each Dawn I Die where he played the aptly named Polecat Carlisle who sets up James Cagney. Michael is best
known for playing Calpurnia in Cecil B. DeMille's production of Cleopatra. This
PRC film is about as far from DeMille as you can get.
What can I say, script is ludicrous, acting on the high school level, use of light
and shadow to cover up shoddy sets. A model PRC film for sure.
3 out of 5 found this helpful