BLOOD ALLEY

US, 1955, 115 Minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Paul Fix.
Directed by William Wellman.

Blood Alley is colourful routine John Wayne adventure of the 50s. Wayne had worked for director William Wellman in Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty. Here the setting is communist China and the atmosphere of the Cold War and antagonism of the 50s. Wayne emerges as a hero out of a Chinese prison and is asked to take a group of refugee Chinese to safety in Hong Kong. Lauren Bacall (who was to appear with him in his last film The Shootist) is a cool, strong heroine. The treatment is on the popular level and is full of action and conventional difficulties. However, the basic theme of the film is interesting with the later experience of the Indo Chinese refugees getting on to boats and seeking refuge in the late 70s.

1. Enjoyable popular adventure, romance? A John Wayne vehicle? John Wayne's style, presence, American heroism?

2. Use of Cinemascope, colour? The atmosphere of China, the sea? The atmosphere of the musical score?

3. A 50s treatment of a serious themes? The popular adventure level? The seriousness of the issues. the anti-communist atmosphere of the time. the Americans as rescuers? How does this seem in retrospect?

4. The background of China. American-China? relationships? The tradition of the Americans in the China Seas? The communist take-over and its repercussions on the international scene and relationships? The need for the refugees to escape to Hong Kong?

5. John Wayne's style as the Captain? The device of his talking to Baby? How well did he handle this - seriously, humorously? His explanation of the device for keeping his sanity under torture in prison? His basic integrity,, though his trying to give a bad image of himself as a tough womaniser? His presence in the prison.. his shipping experience? The action of the escape?

6. The proposal by the village and his questioning of it. final acceptance of it? The village chiefs and their persuasiveness.. the plan,, the detail, the motivation? The amount of time used for the preparation of the escape plan?

7. Katherine and her presence on the island. her devotion to her father - and yet his wisdom but drinking. the inevitability of his death? Katherine and her concern for the Chinese? Her relationship with the maid - and the touches of comedy? Her attraction towards the Captain, the falling in love? The battle of the sexes?

8. The portrait of the Chinese people, the various helpers, workers, elders, children? The pro-communist family and their return? The arrogance of the head of the clan? Their threat on the ship and the poisoning of the food? Their being left behind and the death of the head of the family?

9. The communist authorities and their investigations, the continual need to hide, to conceal plans? The drawing of the maps, the captain's understanding of Blood Alley? The planning of turning the ferry into the escape ship? The details of the pretended sinking of the ferry? The escape and the ruining of the patrol boats?

10. The difficulties of the voyage - how conventional, how well handled? The poisoning of the food and the Captain's getting the culprits, the abandoning of the family, storms? The pursuit by the authorities? The interspersing of these adventures with the telegrams and headlines?

11. The Captain and his ability to get the group to safety? The rescue of Katherine? The falling in love and a possible future?

12. The sense of achievement and congratulation when they arrived in Hong Kong?