Sunday, February 17, 2013

Across the Pacific: Pan-ama-demonium!


This post is part of the CMBA’s Fabulous Films of the 1940s Blogathon, running from February 17th through February 22nd, 2013. Enjoy!

After The Maltese Falcon became a hit in 1941, Warner Bros. wasted no time in following up with Across the Pacific (AtP) in 1942, reuniting its powerhouse stars Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, composer Adolph Deutsch,  and of course, director John Huston, this time working from a script by Richard Macaulay (They Drive By Night; The Roaring Twenties; Born to Kill), based on the serial Aloha Means Goodbye.  (Macauley was later known for testifying as a “friendly witness” before HUAC during the McCarthy era, but that’s a story for another time.)

AtP has plenty of suspense, romance, and flag-waving, what with the U.S. poised to enter World War 2 any minute.  The result was an entertaining adventure with that cheeky Huston feel, at once suspenseful and playful, while never forgetting that war is on the horizon and you can never be sure who to trust.  Only Peter Lorre was missing among the AtP cast—but he turned up just long enough to horse around, according to TCM’s Bret Wood: “Without informing his cast, Huston had Lorre enter the background as a waiter, clumsily disrupting the scene until announcing his presence with a wet kiss on the back of Astor’s neck.”  Oh, those impish Warner scamps!

Love, exciting and new! Come aboard, we're expecting you!
Would you believe I first saw AtP in colorized form?  Yes, that was back in the bad old days when Ted Turner thought people would turn up their pert little noses at black-and-white movies.  Instead, the colors looked muddy and just plain awful. Lovely Mary Astor’s lips looked grayblecch!  Give me glorious black-and-white anytime!

Even Canada, our friendly neighbor to the North,
won't let Rick fight!
Our story is set in 1941, where our hero Rick Leland (Bogart) is in the very un-heroic position of being dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army, with woman trouble indicated.  So our antihero Rick comes aboard the Genoa Maru, a ship heading toward Panama; after all, there’s always something a freelance adventurer can do to earn a few bucks!  Rick meets Dr. Lorenz (Greenstreet), an American who seems to be a lot more sympathetic to the Japanese than most of us Yanks would’ve been during that era, being on the brink of war and all.  Another passenger, Joe Totsuiko (Victor Sen Yung, a.k.a. Sen Yung of The Letter; Number Two Son Jimmy Chan in the Charlie Chan movies; and Hop Sing on TV’s Bonanza, among others), is a sharp young Japanese-American who grew up in the U.S., and has almost the same hepcat lingo as Kookie from TV’s 77 Sunset Strip (*snap snap*).  But don’t underestimate his boyish charm and thick glasses; Joe’s jujitsu moves will knock you on your butt!

Romance on the high seas for Rick and Alberta...
War or no war, there’s always time for romance, by George!  Rick romances passenger Alberta Marlow (Astor, for whom I’ve always had a soft spot, as she reminds me of my late Auntie Joy), who’s pretty gosh-darn glamorous for an unassuming little lady supposedly from a town called Medicine Hat.  (By the way, there really is a town called Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada!)  But hey, aren’t cruises supposed to be exciting and romantic?  While I don’t always agree with venerable New York Times film reviewer Bosley Crowther, I do agree with his comment about our leading lady: “Miss Astor is so beautiful a creature that you naturally know you must reserve your trust.”

...til mal-de-mere strikes! Can Alberta get a refund?
TCM’s Bret Wood goes on to say: “Once war was declared, it was difficult for the crew to hold onto their Japanese-American actors, who were suddenly considered a threat to security.  According to Astor, ‘a little indignation and some wire-pulling held them at least until the picture was finished.’ The Japanese actors were forced to endure a fair amount of racial stereotyping in the wartime film. Most speak pidgin English, while Victor Sen Yung was required to wear grotesque magnifying spectacles. In spite of this thinly disguised racism, Across the Pacific is in many ways respectful of Asian culture and in several instances attempts a serious understanding of the Japanese character and the philosophy of Judo.”

A pleasure cruise on the fab Genoa Maru!
Hope they got entertainment & all-you-can-eat buffets!
Our travelers sure do get their share of adventure and intrigue, eventually foiling a dastardly Japanese plot against the Panama Canal (keep in mind this was wartime in the 1940s, well before WW2 ended and the U.S. and Japan became chummy so everyone could make money on electronics and such.)  Happily, we discover Rick really is on the side of the angels; he’s working for amiable spymaster A.V. Smith (Charles Halton of To Be or Not To Be; The Best Years of our Lives; Alfred Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent), who’s basically Rick’s spymaster for this mission. (He was gonna be reinstated once his mission was over, wasn’t he? I assume nothing!)  I enjoyed the swell repartee between Rick and Alberta. The dialogue is witty, fast, and peppery. For example:

Alberta: “I can do without money.”
Rick: “Stick with me and you’ll get plenty of practice.”

Rick notices Alberta’s comparatively skimpy cruise garb:
Rick: “I never saw anybody like you. You never have any clothes on.”
Alberta: “Well if anyone heard you complaining about it, they would put you in a psychopathic ward.”  (Note: Alberta’s so-called skimpy sea togs just looked like nice bathrobes and skirts to me, but this was 1942, so Astor’s fashions may well have seemed racy at the time!)

According to the TCM Web site, John Huston and many other Hollywood actors and filmmakers accepted commissions to become a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Huston was called into service just before AtP wrapped.  Vincent Sherman (Mr. Skeffington; The Young Philadelphians; and one of my favorites, All Through the Night) took over.

Um, this guy is just here to put
a refreshing mint on Rick's pillow, right?


Huston and his cast work together as beautifully as they did in their previous hit. Astor has always been deft at drama (The Great Lie, for which she won her 1942 Best Supporting Actress Oscar), but she’s also always had a flair for comedy, too (The Palm Beach Story being a delightful example).  Astor and Bogart are an engaging onscreen couple, whether they’re playful or serious.  In one running gag (literally), Astor’s Alberta Marlow makes a prim, hilarious victim of seasickness: “Even if I live, I’ll never be the same again.”  And don’t get her started on the ship’s bread pudding!  The action goes from sea to land, from New York City (where Alberta insists on Rick buying a new suit. Guess she never heard that line from The Spanish Prisoner: “Beware of all enterprises which require new clothes.”), and finally, from Cristobal to Panama where the action gets red hot.  No wonder Crowther had more to say about AtP: “It’s like having a knife to your ribs for an hour and a half.”  That’s in a good way, I assure you!
Careful who you drink with, Rick! Remember when you drank with that Gutman character who slipped you a Mickey in San Francisco?

Don't mind me, Mr. Leland, I'm just looking for my cufflinks!





Anyone got a compact?  My lips are delightfully schmeared after all this gunplay!


"Mine's bigger than yours." Actual dialogue from the movie!
Alberta tells Rick that passenger T. Oki is not okey-dokey! So much for all Japanese looking alike!

"Hey, hon, if we have a great time on this cruise, let's make a date at the Empire State Building a year from now!"
A great cast is worth repeating! Sydney Greenstreet, Humphrey Bogart, Victor Sen Yung, Mary Astor



58 comments:

  1. I love this movie, Bogart and Astor's witty bantor always has me chuckling.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Alyssa! I'm a sucker for witty banter in suspense movies, and ACROSS THE PACIFIC is one of my absolute favorites that way!

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  2. "Our story is set in 1941, where our hero Rick Leland (Bogart) is in the very un-heroic position of being dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army, with woman trouble indicated".

    So Captain Renault was right. There WAS a lady involved.

    Anyway . . . WAHHHHHHHH! Once again evidence that, no matter how hard I try, you'll always have seen more movies than I have. Which goes to say that I haven't seen ACROSS THE PACIFIC but need to if only to improve my opinion of Mary Astor (who you'll recall didn't really impress me too much in THE MALTESE FALCON). From your description it actually looks as if this was a much meatier (and merrier) role for her than as Brigid O'Shaughnessy.

    (What. They couldn't somehow fit Lee Patrick into the cast?)

    Don't know who the Oriental gentleman was in the still you included (titled "Not a finger") but he put me in mind of Susumu Kurobe from WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY? Of course that immediately led to me imagining Bogart introducing himself to Astor as "Rick Leland . . . lovable zany". I really have to start sleeping better at nights (or at least give up driving after taking pain medication).

    In your next life you should consider working for the Warner Bros. PR department during the Thirties and Forties. You always do a wonderful job at selling the studio's pictures from that time period.

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    1. Michael, don't fret; you do just fine movie-wise, considering you know many more unique films than I do. You always have a gift for finding so many more fascinating offbeat films than I do. I'd tip my hat to you, if I was wearing one! :-D

      While I liked THE MALTESE FALCON more than you did, I think you'd really enjoy Mary Astor in AtP, as she gets more opportunities to show both her funny side and her romantic side. Astor also shows her motherly side in LITTLE WOMEN and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. If it's funny you want, I highly recommend THE PALM BEACH STORY; I'd even go so far as to predict it'll make an Astor fan out of you!

      The gent in my "Not a finger!" caption was Kam Tong, who you and other fans of TV's HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL will remember as Hey Boy, the Elvis movie IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR, and oodles of TV appearances. He got around, bless him!

      So glad you joined our merry TotED pow-wow, Michael, as always!

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  3. In all honesty I have not seen this film in a very,very long time so as to its quality I cannot comment. I love Bogart and the rest of the cast, so it does have points in its favor just for that. I just finished reading Stefan Kanfer's TOUGH WITHOUT A GUN: THE LIFE AND AFTERLIFE OF HUMPHREY BOGART and he considered it a big disappointment after THE MALTESE FALCON which is probably not surprising. Let's face it, how many films are going to top THE FALCON. That said, your review though was aces to read.

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    1. John, thanks for your kind comments. as always! I can certainly understand how Humphrey Bogart might have felt that ACROSS THE PACIFIC was relatively small potatoes after a classic like THE MALTESE FALCON became; but then, from what I've read and heard about Bogie, he could be hard on himself at times. Every film doesn't have to be absolute perfection. Even a simply okay Bogart film is often better than most actors' best work! Thanks for the tip about Stefan Kanfer's bio, too; I'll have to get ahold of it!

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  4. Excellent choice. You've got me all revved up to see "Across the Pacific" again. I love, love, LOVE the exchanges between Astor and Bogart. They are a dream team.

    PS: Your finger slipped, Jimmy Chan is number "two" son. It's always a kick to see Sen Yung outside of the Chan character in the 40s. It highlights just how strong an actor he was for such a young fellow.

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    1. Caftan Woman, to begin with, allow me to say "OOPS!" and apologize for my Charlie Chan faux pas; thanks for setting me straight! You're absolutely right, I meant to identify Victor Sen Yung's character as Number Two Son Jimmy Chan. He was so terrific in THE LETTER, too, and a more versatile actor than he got credit for. But hey, he's Number One as far as Team Bartilucci is concerned! :-D

      I'm delighted to hear that you too love "dream team" Bogart and Astor in ACROSS THE PACIFIC! While I love their chemistry in both AtP and THE MALTESE FALCON, I have a particular soft spot for their romantic comedy chemistry here! Wish they'd done more comedic roles together!

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  5. Dorian, I'm a fan of Mary Astor too, so I'm glad your post was so sympathetic to her. The picture of her in the halter top shows that she still ranked pretty high on the glamor chart, even if this was about the last film she made before settling into middle-aged character parts like the mother in "Meet Me in St. Louis." It's one of John Huston's less known films, and it is for Huston a bit of a potboiler, but with him and the rest of the talent involved it's nevertheless an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.

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    1. R.D., I'm very pleased to hear you're a fellow Mary Astor fan! From ingenue to Oscar-winning star to moms and other character roles like in ACT OF VIOLENCE, the amazing Ms. Astor and her films were always well worth spending time with, be they prestige productions or potboilers. AtP may not be absolute perfection, but with Astor and Company, it definitely scores high when it comes to pure entertainment! Glad you joined our AtP conversation!

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  6. Fun post, and a great way to start the decade. Love the bit about Peter Lorre as the waiter.

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    1. Thanks for joining in the AtP chat, Jacqueline! If I had the power to go back in time, I'd get a kick out of seeing Peter Lorre's waiter gag! :-D

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  7. Dorian, a very entertaining review of a well-made follow-up (of sorts) to THE MALTESE FALCON. I've always thought its reputation was hurt by the bland title and inevitable comparison to THE MALTESE FALCON. But, as you point, it has its own virtues and is definitely worth watching.

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    1. Rick, many thanks for your kind words about my AtP review! I'm especially pleased that you agree that while some film fans may consider it more like "ACROSS THE PACIFIC Lite," it nevertheless has plenty of its own winsome virtues. I think viewers in the mood for a good exciting WW2 adventure with an entertaining cast would really enjoy it, given the chance!

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  8. Entertaining as always. I'm a fan of Astor, too. Never seen this one, but will look for it.

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    1. Much obliged for your upbeat comments about AtP, Kim! Keep an eye out for it on TCM; I think you'd enjoy it. We Mary Astor fans must support each other! :-)

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  9. Dorian, you have told this story in your own wonderful and charming way. Thank you for giving Mary Astor her due. In my book she is one of the most underrated stars - the woman had it all and could do it all. Loved the post!

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    1. Chick, I'm tickled pink that you enjoyed my AtP post, and that other Mary Astor fans here love her as much as I do - thanks and HOORAY! She was so talented and versatile, and she had such a remarkable life! Just as I've been ballyhooing Danny Kaye, I think perhaps Mary Astor is due for a revival, too! Wonder what it would have been like if somehow those two had been in the the same film? :-))

      I know Aster wrote an autobiography, and now I'm thinking I should look it up. Have you or anyone here read it? Here's a link from Amazon.com:

      http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2132928.My_Story?auto_login_attempted=true

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  10. "Mine's bigger than yours." Hah, I can't believe that's an actual quote--now I have to see this movie. I love both Bogie and Astor so I'd love to see them teamed up again. Of course, Sydney Greenstreet automatically livens up any movie. And Victor Sen Yung was really good in The Letter, so overall, top-notch cast.

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    1. Aubyn, I definitely think you'd enjoy AtP! Even considering the movie is set during early WW2, there's still plenty of playful wit and a sight gag or two to balance all its elements into a totally entertaining movie. And you can't beat that cast! In fact, Bogie actually makes two gun-related wisecracks - how's that for getting your money's worth, so to speak? :-D I'm so pleased you enjoyed my post; thanks so much!

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  11. Dorian, I really enjoyed reading your classic movie review on, Across the Pacific. I'm not sure if I have seen this movie or not.. It does sound some what familiar.. I will keep an eye out for it.. I'm always up for a good spy caper starring Humphrey Bogart..

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    1. Dawn, thanks for your kind words about my ACROSS THE PACIFIC post! AtP turns up on TCM sometimes, so that's a good place to start. It's also got elements of THE MALTESE FALCON (including its main stars) and Warner Bros' spy thrillers, seasoned with a sense of humor. I think you'll enjoy it when you get a chance to see it!

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  12. Dor,
    I'm tickled that you like Mary Astor so much. I'm fond of her too. (I would love to have an Aunt like her. You lucky girl!) It's too bad that her reputation, legacy suffered due to the scandal she was involved in early on. (Astor, and not your auntie)

    I wish that she had been given a bigger part in The Hurricane as it's one of my favorite of her films. It also doesn't hurt that the gorgeous, Jon Hall was running around everywhere wearing a loin cloth with wind blowing. ha ha

    I can see why the studio cast Astor and Bogart for AtP after their brilliant performances, onscreen chemistry in The Maltese Falcon the year before.

    Loved your funny quips and the interesting trivia regarding the Japanese actors, stereotyping then what they went through trying to travel. I couldn't help but think of Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's when you describe the spectacles and broken English. Tsk, Tsk studios!

    Well done and a wonderful read as always, Dorian.
    Say hello to Vinnie!
    Page

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    1. Page, I was even luckier than that: for many years, I had both my mom and my Auntie Joy, both beautiful, charming, and hilariously funny! (Mom was the funniest of the two, but then, I'm biased! :-))

      I must admit that despite my fondness for our gal Mary Astor, I've never had the opportunity to see her in THE HURRICANE, with or without Jon Hall and his loincloth! I'll be keeping an eye out for it on TCM and such! :-)

      For the record, Page, when it comes to embarrassing racial stereotypes, I agree that Mickey Rooney's character Mr. Yuniyoshi from BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S is THE most embarrassing racial stereotype. Oy!

      Thanks for your enthusiastic praise, my friend! Vinnie and all of us here at Team Bartilucci HQ send hugs and hellos to all of you from all of us here!

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  13. A typically entertaining Warner Bros. 1940s melodrama. They make it seem so effortless, which is a tribute to their talents. The Warner Bros. fog machines worked overtime in this one, and I just love that kind of atmosphere.

    By coincidence, I just watched "Charlie Chan in Panama" (1940) with Victor Sen Yung helping Pop stop a plot to blow up the canal.

    A terrific contribution to the blogathon, Dorian.

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    1. Kevin, thanks ever so much for your positive feedback on my AtP post! I loved your comment "The Warner Bros. fog machines worked overtime in this one, and I just love that kind of atmosphere." I second that emotion! :-) Heck, now you've also got me on the lookout for CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA; I'd love to see our hero and son Number Two Son Jimmy Chan thwarting a plot to sabotage the Panama Canal!

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  14. Wow, Dorian, this is a terrific post! You have given us SO much great information.

    I know I saw this movie, but it was at least 5 or 6 years ago, so I hardly remember it. I will try to see it the next time TCM airs it.

    By the way, I am with you on the black and white versus color thing. B&W for this gal any day of the week!!

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    1. Patti, you're clearly a gal of excellent taste in movies as well as being a foe of colorization! :-) Thanks for your kind praise; I'm so pleased you enjoyed my AtP post! I'm looking forward to your John Garfield Blogathon, too!

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  15. Great post! I wish I had seen it more recently, but I agree with everyone that Mary Astor was a treasure on film, and she and Bogart had great chemistry together. I wish they'd made a dozen more films together.

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    1. CFB, it's never too late to join in the conversation here at TotED; the door's always open! I wholeheartedly agree with you that as wonderful though it is to have THE MALTESE FALCON and our Blogathon movie ACROSS THE PACIFIC, it would have been great if Bogart and Astor could have had a dozen or more great movies together - not to be greedy or anything! :-) But I'm glad we Bogart/Astor fans at least have those terrific films available to enjoy. Thanks so much for chiming in; you're welcome any time!

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  16. Nearly tossed my cookies at the colorization reminder. WHAT WAS HE THINKING?! Anyway, glad we have them now as they were made. I haven't seen AtP in many years so I'd forgotten the astounding cast was together again! Fun post, Dorian! Always great to visit and get distracted here. :-D

    Aurora

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    1. Aurora, I don't blame you regarding Ted Turner's misbegotten colorization episode; it's enough to make any movie lover feel queasy! Thank goodness glorious black-and-white and cooler heads have prevailed since then! Thanks for your kind words, my friend, and by all means, feel free to drop by and "get distracted" here any time! :-D

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  17. This movie is one of my faves, and I agree with all your other commenters who love the Bogart-Astor chemistry.

    WHO KNEW this movie was colourized?! Why on earth would they do that?

    As an aside, I nearly spewed my tea all over my computer screen when I read this photo caption: "Hey, hon, if we have a great time on this cruise, let's make a date at the Empire State Building a year from now!"

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    1. Ruth, I'm thrilled that you not only enjoyed my ACROSS THE PACIFIC post, but also that my little AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER gag had you nearly spewing your tea - no property damage, I hope! Knowing you got a laugh out of it has made my day - beaucoup thanks, my friend! :-D

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  18. I'm sure the bread pudding was better than on Carnival Cruise Lines. Great post and it sounds like a good one.

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    1. Eve, thanks for your charming and witty comments, as always! Glad you enjoyed my daft little blog post! For for the record, there's no way I'd take a cruise after all the agita my friends have had on their cruises. I'll settle for admiring their travel pictures instead! :-)

      P.S.: My husband Vinnie has a yummy recipe for French Toast Bread Pudding. Too bad Mary Astor didn't have that on the ACROSS THE PACIFIC menu! ;-D

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  19. Coincidence: My brother saw this a while back and recommended it highly to me in case I hadn't seen it. Of course I had, but also of course, I'd forgotten all about it.

    But I've been meaning to watch it again and now here you are, Dorian, making the movie sound like a 'must-see'. I will definitely be watching it sooner rather than later.

    Another terrific post, Dorian, m'dear.

    Isn't it too bad about the Japanese stereotyping, I'm reading a book now in which the same thing occurs. It's really hard to take looking back from 2013. Ugly stuff.

    But with war on the horizon it's not totally unexpected.

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    1. See, Yvette, it's Kismet that your brother happened to see ACROSS THE PACIFIC at this time! :-D I quite agree that it's a shame that AtP was full of Japanese stereotyping - ironic, since it also had some interesting things to say about Japanese culture, despite the unfortunate stereotypes. As a friend of mine used to say, you can't fault people for NOT being ahead of their time. Of course, as you sagely noted, with war on the horizon, it wasn't totally unexpected. In any case, Yvette, thanks a million for your positive feedback; you're the cat's tuxedo! :-D

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    2. Definitely Kismet, Delightful Dorian. :) By the way, I noticed that THE AFRICAN QUEEN was available for streaming on Netflix and I think that's coming up for me this week. Haven't seen it in ages and suddenly got the urge. Maybe it was just reading about Bogart in your post...

      Right now, in between tending to my blogging chores, I'm watching my 'Tuesday forgotten' movie of the week: HOPSCOTCH with Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson. And what that has to do with anything I just don't know. But I felt like mentioning it.

      ACROSS THE PACIFIC, unfortunately, is only on 'save' right now at Netflix. But maybe it will be available sometime sooner rather than later. You never know...

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    3. Yvette, I'm a big fan of HOPSCOTCH, too! Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson were a wonderful team here, and in HOUSE CALLS, too! I can hardly wait to read your post on Tuesday! :-D

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  20. Dorian, I've got to take another look at "Across the Pacific," it's one of those films I've not spent much time with. What with Huston, Bogart, Astor & co., I'm not sure why that is. So many movies, so little time probably has something to do with it. Thanks for an entertaining post and providing the inspiration to watch this film again.

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    1. Lady Eve, glad to have you joining the AtP conversation! While AtP is one of my favorites, sometimes I've wondered if AtP isn't quite as well known as its predecessor because some poor misguided folks might assume it's simply MALTESE FALCON Lite, but I assure you it's a whole new story, one well worth watching and enjoying!

      You also make a good point that even with the stars of THE MALTESE FALCON on board ship, even the most avid movie mavens only have so much time in the day, what with all of us having lives and all. Luckily, more of the films we love are increasingly available from TCM and Warner Archive and such, not to mention TiVo! :-) Thanks a million for your kind praise; drop by the chat here at TotED any time!

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  21. I love this movie. I seem to be starting a lot of comments lately with those words, but I do! Before I had the luxury of TCM I rented this one on tape along with All Through the Night, made myself a double bill, and like I said once before about the latter movie, I felt like I'd discovered some kind of secret treasure, while everyone else was busy talking about that Casablanca thingy. these movies are just so cool, and so much fun, and now I really need to revisit them, especially after reading your enthusiastic review that reminds of everything I liked. Certainly a Must-see. I totally agree about Mary Astor being so good at sharp, cool comedy and making a great pair with Bogart, who might not have thought much of these movies but proved he could be great fun in this kind of breezy B style setup. I'm going to use that line “ even if I live I'll never be the same again” next time I review a bad/boring movie.

    And indeed yes there is a Medicine Hat!! Just like there's a Flin Flon and a Punkeydoodles Corners. but as you put it, that's a story for another time. Thanks!

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    1. Kristina, I for one am always pleased to start a conversation with "I love this movie," especially with a favorite like ACROSS THE PACIFIC! :-D For that matter, I love that you did doing a DIY double-bill of AtP and ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, another swell film I've blogged about here at TotED! (Loved your quip about "that CASABLANCA thingy"!) I'm also delighted that you're a fan of the versatile Mary Astor, too. As we're discussing Medicine Hat and other places that sound fictional but actually exist, I wonder if anyone has ever done a movie Blogathon about movie locations, be they real or fictional - but I'd better save that for another time, I'm swamped as it is! ;-D Beaucoup thanks for your positive feedback, my friend!

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  22. You've given me a new movie to watch; I'd never heard of Across the Pacific.

    I haven't really seen the Maltese Falcon all the way through either; movie retrospectives have ruined any surprise for me. Don't you just hate that?

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    1. Java, glad you dropped by to talk ACROSS THE PACIFIC! Keep an eye out for ACROSS THE PACIFIC; I'd love to hear what you think of it! Heck, next time they're on and/or you find it on TCM or the like, this might be a swell opportunity for you to have a double-feature at home with AtP and MALTESE FALCON, light and dark, so to speak.

      Speaking of having classic movies ruined for you, I've always managed been able to re-enjoy my favorite classic movies as if I'm seeing them anew, though we do our best not to spoil the fun for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. My hubby is amazed I can keep enjoying the same movies yet still manage to see it through (reasonably) fresh eyes. I'm zany, I know! :-D

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  23. Love this pick! The first time I saw this film I was amazed at how little attention it gets. The cast is amazing and the pacing is great. I particularly love Victor Sen Yung in this flick. He proved in this movie(and "The Letter") that he could do more than just be Jimmy Chan. I am also a Mary Astor fan, she was truly one of the greats of the era. She could be likable or evil -- serious or funny. Most of all I love "Across the Pacific" because it brought together the "Maltese Falcon" cast without trying to rehash the previous film's plot.

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    1. Gilby, I'm delighted that you're a fan of ACROSS THE PACIFIC, too, as well as another fellow Mary Astor fan! She was so versatile, with her wonder range from drama to comedy, from innocent ingenues to femme fatales to memorable character parts - what a gal!
      Hmm, maybe a Mary Astor Blogathon wouldn't be a bad idea at that, one of these days! :-D

      I also applaud Victor Sen Yung's versatility in his role here as well as THE LETTER; I agree that there was more to him than Jimmy Chan! Furthermore, Gilby, you really hit the nail on the head when you pointed out how AtP did such a great job of bringing together the MALTESE FALCON cast without rehashing its plot. BRAVA to you on your sage comments, and thanks for joining the AtP conversation; You're always welcome to join the fun here at TotED anytime!

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    2. Let me know if you ever decide upon a Mary Astor blogathon -- I found a vintage copy of her autobiography recently and forgot how fascinating a woman she was!

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  24. Hi Dorian,

    I enjoyed this. I've loved this movie for years and am an unreservedly unabashed fan of Mary Astor. I'm about to publish an essay on freighter travel and other matters in the spring 2013 issue of The New Quarterly (a literary mag, appropriately Canadian) and I took the title from this movie, the consummate freighter travel film (at least before it all falls apart in the end. The movie, not my essay.) I love how you can see in the film where John Huston stopped directing it - he left to join the war.

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    1. Peggy, thanks for joining the ACROSS THE PACIFIC conversation here! How cool that you're about to publish a magazine article about the real AtP, so to speak! I'll have to look for The New Quarterly! (My husband happens to be a native Canadian, by the way.)

      True, the film kinda goes a little crazy at the end, but I've always found that kind of endearing, as if everyone involved just went all nuts about our heroes saving the day!

      By the way, Peggy, the folks at the TCM Web site had a witty anecdote about director John Huston having to leave the rest of the film to Vincent Sherman once war broke out. According to Bret Wood: "As a parting prank on Sherman, Bogart and Warner Bros. before leaving for his stint in the Signal Corps, Huston concocted a sequence in which Rick (Bogart) is tied to a chair, surrounded by armed Japanese guards, in a house surrounded by even more soldiers. 'There was no way in God's green world that Bogart could logically escape,' said Huston.'

      'I shot the scene, then called Jack Warner and said, 'Jack, I'm on my way, I'm in the Army. Bogie will know out to get out.'" Poor Sherman couldn't figure out a logical way for Bogart to escape, so that whole sequence had to be reshot so our hero was held captive under more lax security to save the day. As I've said before, those Warners were scamps, bless them! :-) Glad you dropped by TotED, Peggy!

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  25. Gilby, you're a gal after my own heart - I've been keeping my eyes peeled for Mary Astor's bio, too! If I do a Mary Astor Blogathon one of these days, you'll be the first to know. Heck, even if others beat us to it, we can still participate and wow fellow bloggers with our respective Mary Astor lore! :-D

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  26. Hey, gang, our pal, fellow classic film blogger, and Mary Astor fan R.A. Kerr of Silver Screenings will soon begin working on our Mary Astor Blogathon in May! We'll let you all in on the details very soon!

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  27. Dorian, I'm late but just as appreciative of good work. You've done a wonderful job with Across the Pacific. It's been quite a while since I've seen it, but you reminded me of it's charm, and I'd love to see it again. You are so right about the repartee, and I think my favorite that you spotlighted is "Alberta: “I can do without money.” Rick: “Stick with me and you’ll get plenty of practice.”

    Wonderful job, as always!

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    1. Becky, it's never too late to have you join the ACROSS THE PACIFIC fun and frolic here at TotED! I'm happy to hear you're a fan of AtP, too, though I'm certainly not surprised, with your swell taste in movies. Beaucoup thanks for your enthusiastic praise, dear pal, as always! :-D

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  28. I can't believe I've yet to see this one.
    This sounds great. Love the gif of Mary Astor.
    I'll be watching for it next time TCM shows it!

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    1. Jessica, thanks so much for your rave review of ACROSS THE PACIFIC! It's definitely worth keeping an eye out on TCM (or that great big fabulous Humphrey Bogart collection, if you're a big spender! :-) It looks like some of us in our upcoming Mary Astor Blogathon will be blogging about ACROSS THE PACIFIC, too - so glad that you and others will be able to see and enjoy it, too!

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