Set in 1920s Japan James Cagney plays newspaperman Nick Condon. He has offended the Japanese authorities by publishing an article suggesting that Japan has plans to attack China and ultimately the United States and when he is given a document, which implicates Premier Tanaka and his underling Colonel Tojo, that seems to prove this his life is in danger; two people have already died while trying to get it out of the country. They send Iris Hilliard, a half Chinese woman to try to trick him into handing over the document
but he no longer has it and has no idea who does have it!
Made in 1945 it isn't surprising that the Japanese are depicted in a negative way but they could have been a lot worse; not all of them are portrayed as being bent on world domination. James Cagney does a solid enough job as Condon and Sylvia Sidney was okay as Iris although she didn't look half Chinese and romance between her and Cagney isn't the most believable on screen. There isn't much action but there fight scene at the end is pretty good; its scrappiness making it more believable than an obviously choreographed fight would be. As the finale approaches the tension rises as at times it looks as if our hero could die for his course. Overall this isn't a classic Cagney film but it is enjoyable enough.
Made in 1945 it isn't surprising that the Japanese are depicted in a negative way but they could have been a lot worse; not all of them are portrayed as being bent on world domination. James Cagney does a solid enough job as Condon and Sylvia Sidney was okay as Iris although she didn't look half Chinese and romance between her and Cagney isn't the most believable on screen. There isn't much action but there fight scene at the end is pretty good; its scrappiness making it more believable than an obviously choreographed fight would be. As the finale approaches the tension rises as at times it looks as if our hero could die for his course. Overall this isn't a classic Cagney film but it is enjoyable enough.