Escape from Hong Kong (1942)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I know this film doesn't deserve a 7/10 rating, but I'm a fan of Woody Bredell and even if you hated everything else about it, you must admit this movie is beautifully photographed. And it's not directed too badly either by William Nigh. Not exactly a name to conjure with, but Nigh was once a top, top director, would you believe? "Across To Singapore" (1928) is beautifully directed. "Mr. Wu" (1927) is another superb Nigh "must-see"! Anyway, "Escape from Hong Kong" was obviously designed as a "B" film, and as "B" movies go, it offers a very satisfying experience -- provided you don't come late, because all the best scenes are presented in the first half of the movie. I particularly like the trick opening and the marvelous performance by Lesley Hodgson, and not forgetting the Bredellesque introduction of the Japanese spy. It's a pity the film tends to run down after this and that even the attempt to build up a nice climax doesn't wholly succeed. But as "B" movies go, this one is pretty good.

Well, it's hard to find a more dated film than this but it was fun to watch, and brought back memories of old westerns on TV, the Cisco Kid (yes, in Hong Kong), and Saturday morning serials. At one hour's length, this short film manages to include sharpshooting variety acts, World War II espionage, German secret agents, comedy, a Japanese attack on Hong Kong, and quite a few familiar names--especially if you were a kid in the 50s and glued to the TV. I was never quite certain whose side "Valarie" was on, but Marjorie Lord in that role did a great job.I live in Hong Kong and am trying to accumulate the few western-made old films with HK themes or settings. It's not as easy as it sounds, and this was one of the prize catches. No wonder so few people have seen it. IMDb mentions that an alternate title was "Adventure in Sumatra" and I'm not sure why that is, since there is nothing whatsoever about Sumatra in this film.