Humphrey Bogart's choice of movies to star in (or be placed in by a studio) didn't always please me. I'm not, for example, usually very "into" gangster pics. And there are a number of Bogart films better than this one ("Sabrina", "The Caine Muitiny", "The African Queen", "Key Largo", "Casablanca", "The Maltese Falcon", and others) . Yet, this is one of my favorites of Bogart's, perhaps because we see a different Bogart. A man who could be kind and gentle, subtle, and even sing...yet underneath there was a strength not very far below the surface. Bogart reportedly was extremely kind of Gene Tierney during the making of this movie; she was suffering from mental illness that led to a long hiatus from the movies following this film. Perhaps that was who Bogie was, as well.
How likely such a plot could be is questionable, but then again, so are the plots of many movies. The plot is not the strength of this film. Rather, the strength is of the characterizations of the principals. Bogart is fine as a fake priest; he knows enough about Catholicism to get by, but he also realizes his limitations...and he can still be the tough guy, when needed. Gene Tierney as the potential love interest is interesting...and lovely. Lee J. Cobb as the Chinese war lord is surprisingly effective (how did they do his eyes?). Agnes Moorehead is appropriately ditsy as a bit of a busybody, albeit a well-intentioned one. E. G. Marshall is good as the mission's doctor, although somehow I didn't think this allowed his talents to shine.
I'm not a particular fan of Bogart's last two films, so this is the film I like to remember as his last really fine performance. And when I watch it, I always wonder what could have been had we been able to enjoy Bogie into his mature late-50s and 60s.
Highly recommended, and when it comes out on DVD, I'm sure it will grace quite a few home film libraries.
How likely such a plot could be is questionable, but then again, so are the plots of many movies. The plot is not the strength of this film. Rather, the strength is of the characterizations of the principals. Bogart is fine as a fake priest; he knows enough about Catholicism to get by, but he also realizes his limitations...and he can still be the tough guy, when needed. Gene Tierney as the potential love interest is interesting...and lovely. Lee J. Cobb as the Chinese war lord is surprisingly effective (how did they do his eyes?). Agnes Moorehead is appropriately ditsy as a bit of a busybody, albeit a well-intentioned one. E. G. Marshall is good as the mission's doctor, although somehow I didn't think this allowed his talents to shine.
I'm not a particular fan of Bogart's last two films, so this is the film I like to remember as his last really fine performance. And when I watch it, I always wonder what could have been had we been able to enjoy Bogie into his mature late-50s and 60s.
Highly recommended, and when it comes out on DVD, I'm sure it will grace quite a few home film libraries.