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China Passage
China Passage
	Theatrical poster of film
Directed by	Edward Killy
Screenplay by	Edmund L. Hartmann; J. Robert Bren
Story by	Taylor Caven
Produced by	Samuel J. Briskin; Cliff Reid
Starring	Constance Worth; Vinton Haworth; Leslie Fenton; Gordon Jones
Cinematography	Nicholas Musuraca
Edited by	Desmond Marquette
Music by	Max Steiner
Production; company	RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	March 12, 1937 (US);
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

China Passage is a 1937 American mystery film directed by Edward Killy from a screenplay by Edmund L. Hartmann and J. Robert Bren, based on a story by Taylor Caven. RKO Radio Pictures produced the film, which stars Constance Worth, Vinton Haworth, Leslie Fenton and Gordon Jones. Haworth was injured in an automobile accident in January 1937, delaying the film's released until March 12, 1937.

Plot

Tom Baldwin and Joe Dugan are two American adventurers who are hired to escort the wife of a Chinese general to Shanghai. She is carrying a priceless diamond. Upon their arrival at the destination, there is a firefight, during which the diamond is stolen. The two Americans round up a group of suspects, but have no luck uncovering the stolen jewel. Among the suspects are Jane Dunn and Katherine Collins, an author named Anthony Durand and Harvey Dinwiddle. They release the suspects and then make plans to travel to San Francisco. When they board the ship, they are surprised to find that all of the suspects are also aboard the same boat.

Baldwin and Dugan resume their search for the diamond and soon discover that Jane is actually an American customs agent who is also trying to find the jewel. As their search continues, Baldwin and Jane fall in love. After their room is tossed, Dugan is killed. Katherine is an insurance investigator who has uncovered some information, but she is killed before she can pass that information on to Jane and Baldwin. Baldwin is framed for Katherine's murder, but Jane solves the diamond's theft and the murders, revealing that Durand and his henchman Dinwiddle are the perpetrators.

Baldwin and Jane are married by the ship's captain.

Cast

Constance Worth as Jane Dunn
Vinton Haworth as Tom Baldwin
Leslie Fenton as Anthony Durand
Gordon Jones as Joe Dugan
Alec Craig as Harvey Dinwiddle
Dick Elliott as Philip Burton
Frank M. Thomas as Captain Williams
George Irving as Dr. Sibley
Billy Gilbert as Bartender
Joyce Compton as Mrs. Katharine Collins
Philip Ahn as Dr. Feng Tu
Lotus Long as Lia Sen
Huntley Gordon as Arthur Trent
Edgar Dearing as Bill
Lotus Liu as Yo Ling
Tetsu Komai as Wong
Moy Ming as Chang
William Corson as Officer
Alan Curtis as Officer

^[1]

Production

RKO obtained the rights to Taylor Craven's original story, Miss Customs Agent, in July 1936,^[2]^[3] and its title was also the film's working title. Edward Killy was assigned to direct the film in mid-October,^[4] and filming was slated to begin in mid-November.^[5]^[6] In the first week of December, it was announced that seven performers had been assigned to the project: Vinton Hayworth, Constance Worth (in her American screen debut), Frank Thomas, Walter Coy, Diana Gibson, Gordon Jones and George Irving.^[7]^[8] Dick Elliot joined the cast in mid-December,^[9] and production began shortly before Christmas.^[10]^[11] In late December, Joyce Compton joined the cast,^[12] and shortly thereafter, the film's title was changed to China Passage.^[13] Production was delayed for two weeks at the beginning of 1937 when Vincent Haworth was injured in a car accident on New Year's Day. He was released to return to work on January 12.^[14] The film was finished by the end of January 1937,^[15] and the editing process began in the first week of February.^[16] The film opened on March 12, 1937.^[1] After the film premiered, the National Legion of Decency assigned the film an A-1 rating, classifying it as unobjectionable for general audiences.^[17]

Reception

The Film Daily fair review called the story "stilted, unoriginal and implausible" and praised only the film's technical aspects of the film.^[18] Harrison's Reports also published a negative review, calling the plot "far-fetched and meaningless" and the comedic portions "tired." However, the review reported that Constance Worth's her acting was "pleasant," as were the romantic interludes between Worth and Vinton Hayworth.^[19] Motion Picture Daily was more positive, writing that the film was "unpretentious" and "moderately entertaining," with Worth "capable" and "attractive" and Leslie Fenton's sinister performance laudable.^[20] Motion Picture Magazine awarded the film two and a half stars (out of four) and complimented the plot and locales while stating that the acting was adequate.^[21]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "China Passage: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
^ "Purely Personal". Motion Picture Daily. July 25, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ Wilk, Ralph (July 23, 1936). "Little from Lots". The Film Daily. p. 7. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ Wilk, Ralph (October 22, 1936). "A "Little" from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 14. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Briskin Will Soon Have 10 on Stages". Motion Picture Daily. October 26, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "10 Features Before RKO Cameras Before Mid-November". The Film Daily. October 28, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Out Hollywood Way". Motion Picture Daily. December 8, 1936. p. 12. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ Wilk, Ralph (December 18, 1936). "A "Little" from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 5. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Out Hollywood Way". Motion Picture Daily. December 18, 1936. p. 11. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Production Hits Lively Clip With 47 Films in Work". The Film Daily. December 21, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "The Hollywood Scene: Production Impetus". Motion Picture Herald. December 19, 1936. p. 27. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ Wilk, Ralph (December 23, 1936). "A "Little" from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 5. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Out Hollywood Way: Title Changes". Motion Picture Daily. December 28, 1936. p. 5. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
^ "Haworth Back at Work". Motion Picture Daily. January 13, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "47 Pictures Before Hollyw'd's Cameras". The Film Daily. January 26, 1937. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
^ "6 RKO Pix in Work, 7 More in Process of Being Edited". The Film Daily. January 26, 1937. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
^ "Legion Approves 11 of 13 New Pictures". Motion Picture Daily. March 15, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Reviews of the New Films: "China Passage"". The Film Daily. April 16, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
^ ""China Passage" with Constance Worth and Vinton Hayworth". Harrison's Reports. March 20, 1937. p. 46. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
^ "Motion Picture Daily's Hollywood Preview: "China Passage"". Motion Picture Daily. February 26, 1937. p. 4. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Tip-Offs on the Talkies: "China Passage"". Motion Picture Magazine. May 1937. p. 64. Retrieved November 25, 2015.