Blood Alley (1955) User Reviews (47)

Barrelling Down Blood Alley With The Duke At The Helm!

[gary-peterson · 6/10 · 23 March 2006]

I was sparked to comment after reading another user comment here that contended Blood Alley is one of John Wayne's worst films. It may not be at the top of the heap, but it's far from the bottom. It well accomplishes what it sets out to do--entertain: fun, engrossing, action-packed and--on the wide-screen edition DVD I have--beautiful to behold.

The reviewer especially criticized Wayne's frequent side comments to "Baby" and the film's having non-Orientals playing the Chinese. I didn't find either factor a deterrent to my enjoyment. First, I took Baby to be Wayne's guardian angel more than an imaginary girlfriend. And I think his occasional comment to her was fitting. Yeah, the Captain Wilder got a little dotty after spending all those years alone in that cell. His hangup about "tennis shoes" was another example of his having gone a bit stir crazy.

Having non-Orientals play Chinese or Japanese was not uncommon in the Hollywood of yesteryear. Remember Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto? And closer to our time David Carradine in Kung Fu. I never understood why this is a stumbling-block for some people. And in Blood Alley the American actors playing Chinese did a great job.

Paul Fix first and foremost gets a nod. He made Mr. Tso a distinct character through mannerisms and distinctive sage-like speech. I especially liked the scene where Captain Wilder told him to toss that ornate sculpture in the furnace to fuel the ship, "That'll burn" Duke says, but Fix calmly notes how a craftsman put 10 years of his life into creating it. Here was a man who respected and had appreciation for the intangible things, like beauty and like freedom, which is what Mr. Tso was risking his life to help his townspeople regain.

Mike Mazurki also gets kudos for putting in a great performance as Big Hans. No, he didn't really look Oriental, but he brought weight to his part, especially in his first scene. You could tell that he was a guy you could count on. And for film buffs familiar with Mazurki, wasn't it nice to see him playing a good guy for a change?

Finally, the reviewer said Lauren Bacall was wooden. Well, was she ever among Hollywood's most dynamic actresses? I thought she did a good job with what she had to work with. She did seem tacked onto the film and her story was secondary to the main plot. I never did get a firm grasp on the subplot involving her father or why she ran off in the ship graveyard. However, she did sizzle in the scenes in the pilot house, especially when coming between Wilder and the ship's wheel. Yes, this film was not her finest hour, but Bacall certainly redeemed herself in The Shootist and proved she did indeed have an on-screen chemistry with Wayne.

Admittedly Blood Alley does not have a place in the crowded pantheon of GREAT John Wayne films, but it is certainly not among his worst! And as a huge fan of the Duke I can't even suggest a film for that dishonor. For me, any film featuring John Wayne is going to be better than most anything else on at the same time.

I Hate Commies, And That's One of the Reasons I Liked Blood Alley

[oldblackandwhite · 7/10 · 14 March 2011]

But not the only reason. Blood Alley is actually a very well made old time, action, adventure movie with the anti-communist angle in the background most of the time. It is hardly the "right wing propaganda" some questionable sources have labeled it. Salty skipper John Wayne taking a boatload of freedom-loving Chinamen and Chinawomen down the coast in a rickety tub of a ship to Hong Kong with Lauren Bacall along as an unlikely if pleasant love interest. The concentration is on the adventure, not the politics. Adventure movie was a genre excelled in by both star Wayne and director William A. Wellman, a tough, old World War I veteran, whose credits went back to the silent days and included such top-notch numbers as Wings (1927 AA winner), The Public Enemy (1931), and Battleground (1949).

Wellman's direction, if not exactly taut, is precise and on target all the way through. The picture has excellent production values and is impressively filmed. Cimemascope and other 2:35:1 ratios are not exactly the ideal screen shape for good composition, but Wellman and cinematographer William H. Clothier make good use of the extra-wide screen, filling it with full-length shots of ships and panoramic views of the California coast ( well-disguised as the Chinese coast). This movie just missed the gorgeous three-strip Technicolor era, but the Warner Color, which bathes the colors in a nice, unifying blue wash looks better than most other versions of Eastman Color.

Good support is given to the stars, especially by an unrecognizable Paul Fix as the Chinese villagers' wise leader, Mike Mazurki as Wayne's right-hand man, and Henry Nakamura as the cigar chomping, Americanized chief engineer. Of course the politically correct gestapo has complained about Occidentals playing Orientals, but, I'm sorry, Fix made a better Chinaman than any real one could have, and he was a reliable character actor already on the payroll. Mazurki makes the best of one of his few good guy rolls and steals practically every scene he is in.

One wonders why all the little fellow-travelers, useful fools, and European socialists who find the anti-commie theme so offensive would watch this movie other than to carp about it. Any perusal of literature available describing the picture, including what's on the DVD jacket would reveal its nature. Am I the only veteran who despises that bunch even more that the actual commies? Cold war paranoia, they like to say. A paranoia is defined as an unreasonable fear. It was hardly unreasonable in the 1950's or any other time from 1917 to the fall of the Berlin Wall to think we might have reason to fear the communists. That gang of snot-nose socialist punks who creep around IMDb would be better off taking in some crude pro-commie propaganda movie such as The Battleship Potemkin or Earth, then all agree what great "films" they were -- while holding their wrists flipped and their snouts up in the air.

Blood Alley isn't a great movie, but it is a very entertaining adventure story. One more thing -- I don't normally thrive on violence, but I loved it when John Wayne gave it to the Chicom who was raping Laren Bacall in the back with a cuneiform Mosin-Nagant bayonet. Ouch! and good riddance!

Atmospheric comic-strip adventure story.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 13 June 2007]

John Wayne is an American sea captain imprisoned by the Chinese Commies for Impure Thoughts and Eating With Forks. He is sprung by Lauren Bacall, an American doctor's daughter who is also the leader of a nearby village. His Mission: To shepherd the entire village of 180 people on a stern-wheeled ferryboat down the Chinest coast to sanctuary in Hong Kong where a man can breathe free and wear something other than ballet slippers on his big Caucasian feet.

Of course there is a large family of communists in the village and they must be taken aboard too, to save them from reprisals. They don't seem to appreciate this gesture because they poison the food supply aboard the boat and stage a mutiny during a terrific storm. Well, it's okay, though because they all convert in the end except the pompous, bloated family head who moans his humiliation out loud just before being blown to bits by a shell from a Chinese destroyer.

The Chinese villagers are a zany laff riot. They include such dyed-in-the-wool Asians as Paul Fix (Dobbs Ferry, NY), Paul Mazurki (Ukraine), Berry Kroger (Texas), and Anita Ekberg (Sweden). Anita EKBERG? There's also one of those cigar-smoking Oriental wise guys who serves as chief engineer, a pregnant woman, lots of children and old people, and all that.

Wayne took over as the star when the director, William Wellman, fired Robert Mitchum for pushing the Transportation Director into San Francisco Bay, claiming it was just "a practical joke." And Wayne hefts his bulk around effectively enough.

The visuals are pretty good. The film was shot around San Francisco and Suisun Bay and on the Sacramento River but the production design gives a pretty good imitation of what we imagine the coast of China to look like. Lots of fog. The old paddle-wheeler skulks among the reeds. There is a "graveyard of ships", old hulks piled alongside one another, drying and rotting, where wood for the boiler is gathered. A kid would have a heck of a good time crawling in and out of those skeletal remains.

And it's exciting too, though we don't doubt for a moment that the ship and the majority of its crew and passengers will make it to Hong Kong. Wittingly or otherwise the writers have caught some of the features of East Asian culture. When the food is poisoned and must be dumped overboard, the passengers crawl around on the floor picking up individual grains of rice. And the grand ballroom or whatever the compartment is called, serves as a giant bedroom at night with sleeping bodies all over the deck. In the morning, the mats are rolled up, stacked tidily against the bulkheads, and, lo, the bedroom is now the grand ballroom again. I lived with Koreans of modest income for a while and that's kind of how it's done. Every scrap of nutrients is made use of. When they boil rice in a pot of water, the cooking water is served as a beverage along with the rice. And the bedroom cum living room was a simple fact of life.

The dialog has nothing much to recommend it. When Wayne is faced with the difficult task of telling Bacall that her father has been stoned to death by the Commies, he slaps her across the jaw and tells her, "That's right. Get mad. Get GOOD and mad. Then ya'll be ready for what I have ta tell ya." Wayne also gives the speech that converts the Commie villagers to capitalism or democracy or whatever they're converted to. "Your old China is dead!" he announces. Actually, we can't be sure he's right. China has a long long history of being conquered by internal or external agencies and it has usually taken them about 500 years to shake off the yokes. The Commies still have 442 years to be gotten rid of.

You know what would have given this movie a good kick in the pants? Not that it needs one. But -- okay, Lauren Bacall is good enough in an inessential role. But imagine Gong Li as the doctor's daughter! Whew.

Entertaining, if not First Rate, John Wayne Adventure

[dglink · 7/10 · 16 June 2007]

William Wellman solidly directed and William Clothier beautifully photographed this preposterous Cold War saga of Chinese villagers that steal an old stern-wheeler ferry to escape from Red China. The entire village uproots and sails the ancient dilapidated vessel through the treacherous Formosa Straits, which are known as Blood Alley, towards Hong Kong and freedom. Of course, with a stalwart John Wayne at the helm, the boat is in good hands, at least when the Duke is not distracted by Lauren Bacall. Bacall, who seems to have wandered in from another film, has confused living in a small Chinese fishing village with taking a suite at the Hong Kong Hilton. Her stylish clothes are always immaculate and fresh; her make-up is perfectly applied; and her coiffures must have taken hours to complete. The brass bed in her room always has clean, pressed sheets, and an invisible army of elves evidently sweeps and dusts her home every night.

But, aside from the incongruities and the racial stereotyping that was rampant when the film was produced, "Blood Alley" is an incredibly entertaining film that holds up to repeated viewings. Once the action leaves land, the escape at sea is exciting and often tense. Gunboats, storms, and treachery abound, although the Duke never loses his good-natured cool. Neither does Bacall, who remains confused about her surroundings and is dressed and manicured for a cruise aboard the Queen Mary. However, the film is great fun, if not as campy as it could have been. Mike Mazurki lends good support as a loyal Chinese villager, although he looks less Asian than John Wayne did in "The Conqueror."

The stunningly composed landscapes that are bathed in ravishing colors and splashed across the Cinemascope screen are worth a viewing in themselves. The beauty of the countryside should have kept Wayne's attention focused, because Bacall is too cold and hard as a love interest, even for a man who ostensibly spent years in a Chinese prison. Maureen O'Hara always played well with Wayne, and perhaps she would have injected some blood and life into the role. Nevertheless, "Blood Alley" remains a guilty pleasure and loads of fun for those who love watching John Wayne play John Wayne and do not demand an entirely credible storyline.

Decent adventure

[liscarkat-2 · 7/10 · 24 September 2012]

"i think they just want to evilize the Chinese communist government (they may be or not be, now their people are manufacturing for the world)"

This, posted above, reflects the attitude of several commenters whose left-wing sphincters reflexively contracted the second they read the name "John Wayne".

"Blood Alley" isn't great, and it isn't one of Wayne's best movies, but it's well-made and entertaining enough to be worthy of at least one viewing.

As for "evilizing" the Chinese government, Mao Zedong and his regime did a fine job of doing that themselves when their actions resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of their own people, not to mention brutal imprisonment of non-criminals, slavery, stupid agricultural policies that resulted in mass starvation, etc., etc. It's no wonder the people in the film's village wanted to escape. But damn John Wayne and his conservative cronies for making it the background of an escapist adventure movie. Because after all, the death and oppression of countless innocent people that is the legacy of the communists in China is okay, because "now their people are manufacturing for the world", and who is the Duke to say otherwise?

The Bleeding Heart of China

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 18 October 2006]

When I watch Blood Alley it does make me wonder that if all these people are so dead set on leaving Communist China than who was it that supported Chairman Mao. My answer is a lot of people who wished they hadn't.

When Blood Alley came out in 1955 the Chinese Communist takeover was in 1949 and we in this country, rightly or wrongly, were not recognizing them. Maybe the policy was bad, didn't mean the Chinese Communists were any good.

Anyway the film is about a sea captain who gets freed from jail in the People's Republic by a village who have hit upon a plan to take themselves to Hong Kong and freedom bag and baggage. The idea is to steal an old river steamboat and have Captain John Wayne pilot the craft down the Formosa straits, or Blood Alley as its called. Lauren Bacall who is the daughter of a medical missionary is along for the ride.

Too bad that the Duke and Betty could not get a better film though they sure did do a winner later on in The Shootist. Nevertheless in her memoirs she spoke with great affection for Wayne and how much she enjoyed working with him.

One other interesting thing has always struck me. John Wayne did three films with William Wellman and this was the least of them. The other two, The High and the Mighty and Island in the Sky are classics containing two of the Duke's best performances. But for whatever reason the Wayne family estate withheld them until last year it rendered discussion about Wayne's acting abilities totally off base. This one which is just a routine action adventure film despite the right wing political message.

In addition Wayne is miscast, but in fairness he was pinch hitting for the originally cast Robert Mitchum. Back in those days Wayne and his Batjac production company did produce films with other people in them. One they did produce was Track of the Cat that starred Mitchum and was directed by Bill Wellman. Wellman also directed Mitchum in his breakthrough role in The Story of GI Joe. But Wellman and Mitchum came to a parting of the ways just before the film was to start shooting and Mitchum got canned.

That left producer Wayne in a bind and after reportedly offering the role to Humphrey Bogart and Gregory Peck, he did it himself with no changes in the script to accommodate his less cynical screen persona.

In fact according to Lee Server's biography of Mitchum, Wayne was to go on his honeymoon with wife number 3, Pilar. It was postponed and Pilar Wayne would not allow the Mitchums in the Wayne home for the time she was married to the Duke, though Mitchum and Wayne were friends. They could be friends, but Mitchum was forbidden to enter her home.

Such occidentals as Paul Fix and Mike Mazurki were cast as Chinese in this film as was Berry Kroeger. It could never happen that way again, though Mazurki in fact did have some Oriental blood in his background.

As for Communist China or Red China if you prefer, you never hear it referred to in that way any more. That's because the second Mao Tse tung couldn't fog a mirror the Chinese set about becoming good capitalist oligarchs. They pay lip service to the 1949 revolution, but that's about all.

Good for them.

Worth a look if you are a fan of Wayne or Bacall

[jem132 · 5/10 · 26 April 2006]

This is one of Wayne's non-westerns, and Lauren Bacall in a different role to what we are accustomed to. 'Blood Alley' never reaches anything approaching greatness, but if you're a fan of Wayne or Bacall you may as well check it out.

Right-wing Wayne plays Captain Wilder in this decidedly right-wing film. It seems to be an excuse for the film-makers to express their anti-communist sentiments, with the Chinese being portrayed as a backwards race in quite a few scenes. Add to that the countless American actors playing Chinese characters, and you have a very pretentious product overall. Anita Ekberg even plays a Chinese, evoking more than a few giggles from this viewer.

The Wayne-Bacall teaming never entirely pays off, despite their best efforts.

5/10.

Satisfying adventure film with a not too subtle political point

[bh_tafe3 · 8/10 · 11 December 2008]

Firstly, ignore some of the nonsense complaints about right wing propaganda. If ever a government deserved to have themselves demonised, it was the Communist Chinese Government of the 1950s. Bringing a slant on communism that more closely resembled fascism, they destroyed countless lives and offered the nation very little in return.

Secondly, at heart this is a boy's own adventure. Despite the political point all this really does is give John Wayne the chance to cannon down Blood Alley, cracking one liners, not to mention skulls as he tries to get a boat load of hard working, wise cracking Chinese people to the border. And then of course, there's baby. Wayne's imaginary friend who he created to help him survive years of torture.

The film is held up by the constraints of the time, getting a lot of Western actors to play the Chinese characters. This was not uncommon, and given that that the yanks weren't supporting China at the time that's another complication. But they do a nice job.

Lauren Bacall is the film's weak point, struggling for a reason to be there, she simply comes off looking like a token love interest. That having been said, what's a good adventure without the damsel in distress? This is a good movie, satisfying, wholesome, and only a 20 year old first year uni student who believes that they are the gateway to true knowledge would have a problem with its politics. This is not a snapshot of history trying to show a believable look at Chinese culture and the harrows of torture, it's an action flick. Suspend your disbelief and don't nit pick, John Wayne films are a gift. Just sit back and enjoy.

Not essential, but it is an interesting change of pace for the Duke, and if you have two hours free, there's plenty worse films you could invest in.

A seafaring soldier of fortune well played by John Wayne takes on a cargo Chinese refugees towards Hong Kong

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 27 July 2013]

Exciting flick on the danger waters of the Orient with Wayne as a seasoned merchant Marine Captain undertaking several adventures and risks in Communist China . It deals with a merchant marine captain, named Tom Wilder (mid-career John Wayne, though Robert Mitchum was originally cast but he was fired from the film after an altercation) rescued from the Chinese Communists by local villagers , as he is assigned by Mr Tso (Paul Fix) to carry out a risked mission to transport the whole village to Hong Kong on an ancient paddle steamer . As he must smuggle throughout enemy territory plenty of nasty communist soldiers and cruisers . Along the way Wilder is helped by the sympathetic Big Han (Mike Mazurki , usual partner in John Wayne-John Ford films) and accompanied by a beautiful as well intelligent woman called Cathy Grainger (Lauren Bacall , she later starred with him again in his last movie 'The Shootist' ,1976,).

This enjoyable picture packs thrills , drama , action , sea battles , and results to be pretty entertaining . John Wayne's good vehicle , though Gregory Peck and Humphrey Bogart turned down the role and to keep his new production company Batjac afloat, Wayne agreed to play Capt. Wilder. Enjoyable acting by Lauren Bacall , there was some surprise when Lauren Bacall agreed to make the movie since she was a left-wing Democrat and the film was right-wing Cold War propaganda ; while John Wayne took the role after Mitchum was fired she expected to clash with him since she was a left-wing Liberal and he was a right-wing Conservative . Having Wayne already disposed of all unfriendly Japanese in the WW2 such as ¨Sands of Iwo Jima¨, ¨Operation Pacific¨ and ¨Flying Leathernecks¨ , this one marked the start of new assignment against any Oriental with Communist leanings such as subsequently did in ¨Green Berets¨ . Agreeable support cast such as Paul Fix playing as Mr. Tso , Mike Mazurki as Big Han and brief appearance by Anita Ekberg as Wei Ling and James Hong as a communist soldier . Colorful and evocative cinematography by William H. Clothier , John Wayne films' usual cameraman . Emotive as well as thrilling musical score by Roy Webb .

The motion picture was professionally directed by William A Wellman . Wellman was an expert in all kind of genres as Gangster, drama , Film Noir , Western and adept at comedy as he was at macho material , helming the original ¨ A star is born ¨(1937) (for which he won his only Oscar, for best original story) and the biting satire ¨Nothing sacred¨ (1937) , both of which starred Fredric March for producer David O. Selznick . Both movies were dissections of the fame game, as was his satire ¨Roxie Hart¨ (1942), which reportedly was one of Stanley Kubrick's favorite films. During World War Two Wellman continued to make outstanding films, including ¨Ox-Bow incident¨ (1943) and ¨Story of G.I.Joe¨(1945), and after the war he turned out another war classic, ¨Battleground¨ (1949). In the 1950s Wellman's best later films starred John Wayne, including the influential aviation picture ¨The hight and the mighty¨ (1954), for which he achieved his third and last best director Oscar nomination. His final film hearkened back to his World War One service, ¨The Lafayette squadron¨ (1958), which featured the unit in which Wellman had flown . He retired as a director after making the film, reportedly enraged at Warner Bros.' post-production tampering with a movie that meant so much to him .

one of John Wayne's worst, eh Baby?

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 22 March 2006]

Years ago I saw this movie and didn't remember it being so bad. I was surprised, in fact, that upon seeing it again I really disliked the film and thought it failed on so many levels. While not as bad as JET PILOT or THE CONQUERER, this is a truly stupid film and is best skipped by all but the most devoted fans of John Wayne.

The biggest and most annoying aspects of the film is Wayne's continually talking to his invisible girl "Baby". Repeatedly throughout the film, he talks to her almost like he's a narrator describing his character's inner machinations. And he does it in such a clumsy way with lines like "did ya hear that, Baby?" or "Eh, Baby" every few minutes. PLEASE JUST SHUT UP!

Secondly, there just isn't much chemistry between him and Lauren Bacall. Her character is completely undeveloped and rather wooden (except when she inexplicably wants to drop everything and get herself killed for absolutely no reason late in the film). His character is a moron--and an obnoxious one at that.

Third, I hated seeing Americans playing lead Chinese characters. While this may have been more common in the 1930s, it's here as well. The funniest example is Mike Mizurki as a Chinese guy!!! Hmm,....very reminiscent of John Wayne as Genghis Kahn in THE CONQUERER.

So all-in-all, this is a bad movie--whether or not it stars John Wayne. The writing, acting and direction are all poor and I can think of no reason to see the film. I know some of his devoted fans will think it's heresy for me to pan this film, but for every great film he made at least one dud. And this one, while not his worst film, is a dud.

Fun old movie with John Wayne and Lauren Bacall

[dodig-65512 · 9/10 · 30 April 2016]

I love this old movie and not because I'm a dyed in the wool John Wayne fan, because I'm not! There's a couple of other Wayne movies I like but not a lot! The Rooster Coburn ones are a couple! I don't watch a movie for the technical mistakes or say who was miscast! If I really like one it becomes a "favourite" and may be brought out fairly often! This is one of my very "favourites"! I can't really tell you why, maybe it's the idea of a whole village escaping from Red China, plausible or not! I love happy endings!! Maybe it's because I'm an old fart of 80! Don't give me violence or a lot of bed hopping that's not for me or 4 letter words either! I didn't hear a single one! I would like to point out that Amoy is on the coast of China.

On a Slow Boat to Hong Kong

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 1 May 2014]

John Wayne has to transport Lauren Bacall and a lot of Chinese villagers down river to Hong Kong with the Commies in 'red' hot pursuit. OK but not one of Duke's best. The biggest problem is that Duke plays a quirky sort of character who talks to an imaginary friend called Baby. It's a rather annoying expository device. Maybe a different actor could have made it work but Duke just doesn't fit the kind of guy who talks to himself. Anyway, it's still an enjoyable movie. Bacall is pretty and fine in her role, though the part isn't the greatest. Paul Fix is good although his playing a Chinese character is sure to cause easily offended types to blow steam out of their ears. So if you're one of those, you might want to skip this one for the sake of your blood pressure. John Wayne fans will like it most, even if it's not one of his stronger roles.

Mildly absorbing but implausible Red China yarn

[shakercoola · 5/10 · 24 December 2019]

An American action adventure; A story about an American merchant navy captain freed from a communist prison by Chinese villagers, who comes to the aid of the daughter of a missionary doctor. He agrees to her plan to attempt to smuggle to safety in Hong Kong all 180 of the villagers on a ferry boat. Based on Albert Sidney Fleischman's novel, this is an anti-Communist propaganda edge with a blatant message and slogans about a vile Red China. It plays out sluggishly and predictably and without much chemistry between its two leads, Bacall and Wayne. It has striking cinematography and is watchable but it is a standard fare chase melodrama. Wayne's character as a veteran seaman can be construed as condescending and paternalistic in his attitudes to the Chinese. For all the plot incidents intended to create thrills and suspense, only one stands out as dramatic: villagers reflecting on their abandonment.

A Daring Escape from the Chinese Communists in 1955

[romanorum1 · 7/10 · 28 September 2010]

Captain Tom Wilder (John Wayne), languishing in a southern Chinese Communist prison and kept sane by his imaginary girlfriend "Baby," is freed from his jailers by a bribe raised by the efforts of local villagers. There is a price. As an experienced sea captain, Wilder is expected to convey the 180 villagers 300 miles down Blood Alley (really the Pearl River or Zhu Jiang: just check a map) to the safety of Hong Kong so that they may escape the machinations of the brutal Chinese Communists. Wilder is initially reluctant: His ship is just an old ferryboat (1885), and he has no maps or charts to navigate a river that has many boat wrecks. The ferryboat is flat-bottomed and reaches a grand total of 8 knots (nautical miles per hour). And yet Wilder is intrigued by the opportunity to outwit the Reds. Time is short, as the ruthless Communist soldiers, searching for Wilder, are terrorizing the villagers. After a trick that ensnares the Communist patrol boat on a high riverbed, Wayne and his passengers are soon on their way down river. Wilder is accompanied by a doctor's daughter, Cathy Grainger (Lauren Bacall), fellow-escapee and love interest. Along the way are many obstacles: gunboats, stormy weather, mutiny, poisoned food, etc. There is a final escape through shallow water aided by a human tow. Through it all you just knew that Wilder would see things through in the end. After all, even though there were over 600 million Chinese, they did not stand a chance against the Duke. Colorful and Entertaining.

Escape film with J Wayne, L Bacall

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 23 September 2019]

The first of two awesome films John Wayne and Lauren Bacall would make together! this one, from 1955. J. Wayne is Captain Wilder; Bacall is Cathy Grainger, and when WIlder is taken to her camp, they must work together to escape the communist chinese. made exactly ten years after the big war. Bacall and Wayne will work together again, twenty years later, in the Shootist, a western, of course. In Blood Alley, Wilder keeps looking up, and talking to "Baby", and for most of the film, we're not sure just who she is, and why he talks to her. They load up the boat and make a run for it to try to escape. Wilder is the Uber-hero, a one-man show who can do it all with the help of the locals. SO similar to Inn of the Sixth Happiness, a couple years later. Blood Alley is from Warner Brothers, (and Wayne's own production company) while "Inn" was made by Twentieth Centry Fox. Blood was directed by the infamous William Wellman! one of his last directing jobs... he only made three more after this. Story by Albert Fleischman, one of several novels by him. It's quite entertaining, if almost too good to be true. Appears to have been filmed in the bays and riverways of southern california. It's no award winner, but it's a feel good story, shown on Turner Classics now and then.

That John Wayne...

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 27 June 2016]

His ship seized by the Chinese Communists, American Merchant Captain Tom Wilder (John Wayne) languishes in prison but Chinese villagers help him escape to sail them to Hong-Kong.

Wayne plays a role originally intended for Robert Mitchum prior to an altercation with the producers. Mitchum was fired from the production by Wellman. Wayne took over the lead after Gregory Peck turned the film down and Humphrey Bogart requested a large amount of money to assume the role.

Many people have focused on the way China and the Chinese are treated in the film. Many of the Chinese roles are filled by obviously non-Chinese actors. And because this is shortly after the Korean War, Chinese-American relations are not great. But I think Wayne getting the part is the more interesting story... this is clearly a role Mitchum would have dominated at, Peck would have brought acting chops to, and Bogart would have the Bacall rapport. But Wayne? Other than his fan base, he seems like an unlikely choice.

Right-wing propaganda of the 50's

[nnnn45089191 · 5/10 · 23 September 2006]

Pretty much a relic of the time it was made, "Blood Alley" is colored by the right-wing sympathies of its star,oriental stereotypes,which are very racist,and some hammy acting. I found the early part of the film hilarious,with Paul Fix doing a very poor oriental act that was really laughable. John Wayne and Lauren Bacall display no chemistry at all (perhaps she only had it with Bogie on screen). The performance of Wayne is one of his worst. Once the escape to Hong Kong starts the movie picks up pace and is pretty entertaining. I recommend this movie only to die-hard Wayne fans. A mediocre Wayne movie saved by the action of the latter part of the movie.

Very entertaining, top cast, adventure, enjoyable characters.

[tet68a1 · 10/10 · 28 April 2005]

Shows the communist way of oppression and total disregard for human life, even their own people. Mild compared to what Mao actually did to China. Good for all ages. Unique concept of the quirks of John Wayne's character. Rare display of a movie to show the way of communists without typical socialist and anti-American excuses. As for the real life murders of 40 to 60 million Chinese during Mao's dictatorship this is a hopeful story. Millions of Chinese were able to do this, however with little help from the outside world. Several movies and reports of this type were available before the censorship by pro-communists of the later 60's and 70's.

Some Exciting Action Scenes. But...

[BoomerDT · 6/10 · 6 July 2023]

I've seen nearly all of John Wayne's A list films, but never caught "Blood Alley" til a recent showing on TCM. Looking at the credits I was pleasantly surprised that this 1955 offering was filmed in color, Panavision and directed by the great Wild Bill Wellman. It is gorgeously filmed and the action scenes are plenty and well done, as The Duke is a South Seas Captain sprung from a Communist Chinese prison to pilot a paddleboat that will take oppressed villagers from mainland China to freedom in Hong Kong. BTW, Wayne looked remarkably fit and healthy after 2 years in solitary confinement. He also acquired, to keep his sanity, a habit of talking to an imaginary character he calls "Baby." This may have been a good device in author Albert Fleischmann's novel, but in a movie script it's annoying. Lauren Bacall is the daughter of a missionary and even in the hot and stultifying humidity her hair, makeup, and clothing always look perfect. Naturally her and The Duke fall in love, but there is no chemistry. As mentioned, some great action scenes as storms, treason, and the Red Chinese Navy tries to stop them.

Too Right Wing For My Taste ....

[Theo Robertson · 3/10 · 20 February 2004]

.... Though that`s only to be expected . It`s not like anyone is going to confuse John Wayne with Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton are they ? , so when you have a movie about the Duke escorting a bunch of refugees downriver from Red China you know what to expect ie all Chinese who aren`t commies are brave and noble and could easily pass as WASPish Americans while all communist Chinese are drunk , stupid and rape anything that moves . Like THE GREEN BERETS there`s no racism involved since the point is made - And it`s as subtle as hitting someone over the head with a sledgehammer - that we shouldn`t judge people on the colour of their skin only on the colour of their politics . If you liked THE GREEN BERETS you`ll like this . I didn`t but there is some irony involved in seeing John Wayne dressed in the uniform of red army officer

Fictional Account Nails Far East Red Menace

[redryan64 · 10/10 · 16 September 2014]

ONCE AGAIN, WE are able to refer to our having seen this film "with the naked eye"; that being, at the local movie house in our neighborhood. In much of the same way that God intended us to see Baseball Under the Lights; he also wanted us to see Movies at the Show!

IN OUR CASE, it was the Ogden Theatre at 63rd & Ashland, in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood. We were about ten years old at the time and really didn't particularly like the film. This was probably and most likely due to the fact that a young kid would not understand the story, nor its relevance to recent history and current events.

HAVING VIEWED THE same movie in recent times (more than once)and owing to the undeniable consequences of growing decidedly "long in the tooth", we have radically altered our opinion of BLOOD ALLEY.

SO, UPON FURTHER review, we must proclaim this to be one of the better dramas of that middle 1950s. Its offbeat characters, desperate situations and the winning premise of a cynical, world weary boozer's finding both redemption and love are the makings of a dynamite winning combination.

STRONG FEATURES OF the production were: realistic settings, great incidental music, fine color work and a plausible storyline that keeps one interested from start to end. Of course, all of these elements were skillfully blended by one Mr. William Wellman, Director extraordinaire.

A large cast was assembled that featured many of the Chinese actors of Hollywood, including such names as Victor Sen Young. There are very many extras of Asian descent present; as well as some Caucasians masquerading as Chinese. Two names that stick out to us are Mike Mazurki and Anita Ekberg.

ITS LARGE CAST features the main characters of Stars John Wayne and (Mrs. Betty Bogart, herself) Lauren Bacall. They do make for a very interesting, albeit quite offbeat, couple. We also learned that Mr. Robert Mitchum was fired off of the picture and replaced by the Duke; who incidentally produced it.

AS ENJOYABLE AS Mr. Wayne and Miss Bacall in the picture, we can't help feeling that Mitchum was much more the real world counterpart of this crusty sea-dog of a Merchant Captain.

Communism Sucks - Eh, Baby?

[screenman · 6/10 · 11 January 2009]

Them poor, pesky redskins are given a break at last; this time its the commies' turn to take a larruping.

Big John pretty well epitomised the United States as it saw itself on screen, and being a true patriot himself it's hardly surprising that he was co-opted for the purpose of national propaganda.

The year 1955 is right at the heart of cold-war paranoia. The Chinese cultural revolution is under way. Though quite why Uncle Sam should think it necessary to demonise the Chinese is not quite clear. Russia was far and away a greater threat at the time. However...

Here, he's a yank imprisoned by the Chinese, and sprung by corruption and bribery. His task is to pilot a steam ferry that a whole village mean to hijack and collectively sail to freedom. That means Hong Kong.

It's a sturdy, 1950's 'Boy's-Own' adventure, a sort of 'Von Ryan's Express' with noodles. Many of the 'Chinese' actors are played by Caucasians, there being an evident shortage of trained English-speaking Oriental players. But non of them are quite so bad as Kurt Jurgen's comic parody in 'Inn Of The Sixth Happiness'. Slyly-vixenish Lauren Bacall provides the love interest as a fellow escapee. There isn't much for her to do than what she does best, and she gets little enough opportunity even then. There's plenty of interesting little surprises and turns. Action and irony are served-up in about equal measure. And, of course, the capitalist way prevails.

The two things that I think let it down are the two for which it is mostly remembered. Firstly, Wayne's frequent confidential asides with his invisible familiar, referred to as 'Baby' come across as a little contrived these days. And likewise; the needlessly laboured emphasis on the evils of communism seem way out of place in a movie. Today, most people (in the west) are slightly better informed about the political shape of our planet than they were in the blinkered black & white times of MAD morality. Even those of us who grew up under its shadow find the old jargon a little jarring, now.

Without these things I'd give it at least another point. As it is, the work seems to resemble a piece of Pentagon propaganda rather than imaginative entertainment.

Still, there's some nice set-pieces and camera work, a believably created sense of place, an adequate script, and two top-dollar actors. Hardly collectible, but worth a wet afternoon.

Propaganda is a universal tool...

[kknd · 1/10 · 27 October 2006]

really, a comment by nnnn45089191 is exactly what this movie is,

Right-wing propaganda of the 50's Author: nnnn45089191 from Norway

Most of the views here are from western countries, where people had tunnel vision of what china was about in the 1950s. propaganda is a universal tool used by Germans, Japanese, Americans, Chinese, English, in fact all government in that chapter of earth's history.

the movie didn't even try to depict the real environment in china, having westerners dressed in feudalism period Chinese costumes and speak cantonese (mandarine is the official Chinese language and cantonese is only spoken in one Chinese province - canton) is just hilarious. And it also shows how desperate the film producers are trying to convey the story, no matter how unprofessional the movie looks.

and when the "Chinese navy" fired, the battleship officers were speaking cantonese too... and Chinese army had absolutely no such fire power in the 1950s.

if you don't get the hang of this, try imagining this way, 1. American's war against the native indians, 2.a bunch of white Americans dressed like indians, speaking a minority Indian language poorly 3.indian army's fighter jet rains death

really, the film makers have no idea what china really is and they clearly showed no intention of even trying to convey the true image... the whole story was a make up.

u really need to ask, what is it that they want to achieve by making such a film.

i think they just want to evilize the Chinese communist government (they may be or not be, now their people are manufacturing for the world), like what GW Bush did to the old iraq regime whom was once supported by the USA government itself.

Underrated Wayne-Bacall pairing

[oldmovieman · 6/10 · 14 August 2005]

Passable Wayne outing finds the Duke as an American skipper stuck in a Red Chinese jail (don't know why) and sprung by some villagers who want him to pilot them off the mainland to Hong Kong via a rickety riverboat. Amongst the passengers is Lauren Bacall, daughter of an American doctor and an influential person in the village. A stormy love interest develops between Wayne and Bacall as he takes the slow boat through the Formosa Straits despite the presence of Chinese gunboats. Why is this movie worth watching? First, good chemistry between the Duke and Bacall. She's believably tough and has some good moments putting the Duke in his place. Second, interesting photography and sets seem to capture the feel of the China coast though it was shot (as one reviewer has noted) in California. Third, the plot moves pretty quickly though, strangely, nothing much dramatic happens. And this brings up the flaw in the movie. At the outset, the Duke tells the village leaders that their scheme to use a paddle-boat on an ocean escape is crazy -- the boat is extremely slow and, being flat-bottomed, is likely to sink in rough ocean water. Moreover, they have no charts. We later learn that the compass is flaky as well. But we never see Duke solving any of these problems, never laying out a plan or having any sort of technical conversation with anyone on board. He's not rattles at all when they encounter a raging gale. He just pilots the boat as if he were driving from New York to Albany and encountering some rain along the way. It's just too easy and the drama of the journey is lost. Best moment: Bacall pushing Duke into a wall and telling him "And keep your hands off me." Worst moment: realizing that Mike Mazurki, with no makeup and not even a hint of an accent, is supposed to be a Chinese villager!

The Magnificent One....Duke's Eastern Western.

[ianlouisiana · 7/10 · 24 February 2010]

Sprung from prison to rescue villagers from the grip of the bad guys, Mr Wayne - with a wry grin and a cold eye,gets the job done.Not a cactus,a horse,nor a dancing girl in sight,a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost abandoned in the yard rather than a covered waggon.It's 1955 and the beautiful,tragic country of China is once again being raped by Warlords,this time the Communists. Unlike Gladys Ayward in "The Inn of the sixth happiness",who took "her" Chinese overland,Mr Wayne takes "his" Chinese to freedom by ferryboat,aided by village elder Mr Paul Fix and doctor's daughter Miss Lauren Bacall. "Blood Alley" is a pretty good movie reflecting the time when it was o.k. to think communism a "bad thing" and freedom a "good thing". It has since been beasted by proponents of moral equivalence,but such subtleties were not available to most folk 55 years ago. Subsequently history has judged Mao Tse Tung much more harshly than those who hung his picture on their walls a few years after this picture was made.Clearly he was up there with the other giants of their profession,messrs Stalin and Hitler. Propaganda it may have been,but it had a strong foundation in actuality. Mr Wayne - a year away from his Magnum Opus The Searchers" - fits very comfortably into his role of the slightly eccentric Sea Captain.Miss Bacall seems a little lost,as if she is looking for a hook to hang her characterisation on but failing to find one. Mr Fix in the decidedly politically incorrect part of the village elder is rather touching. I was fully expecting "Blood Alley" to be a Republican rant with a rabid Mr Wayne spitting Commies out of his teeth but was pleasantly surprised. A lot of care has been taken all round in its production and it if far better than you might anticipate.Well worth watching.