NR | 1h 36m | Drama, Romance, Thriller | 1955
Forbidden Desires
Set in the early 1950s, British-controlled Hong Kong is a completely different world compared to the iron-fisted rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the mainland. Photojournalist Louis Hoyt (Gene Barry) crosses into forbidden territory and is accused of being a Western spy; he’s arrested and imprisoned by the communist authorities. His wife, Jane Hoyt (Susan Hayward), arrives in Hong Kong, determined to find him.
Enter Hank Lee (Gable), a smuggler with a heart of gold. Though some view him as a gangster, others see him as a protector of the downtrodden. He doesn’t smuggle drugs or weapons, just luxury items; he even looks after a pair of orphans.
A Commendable Effort
Despite its reliance on familiar Hollywood tropes, “Soldier of Fortune” remains an entertaining, if unremarkable, adventure, elevated by its charismatic leads and striking Hong Kong backdrop. Gable and Hayward share a natural chemistry that is obvious on the big screen.
Hayward’s Jane Hoyt, determined to find her missing husband, brings enough gravitas to her role, though the film ultimately prioritizes her romance with Gable over her agency. This shift somewhat undermines the sanctity of her marriage, sending mixed messages about fidelity and commitment, which was unusual for that era.
The breathtaking location cinematography gives the film an air of authenticity, though some studio-bound sequences, necessitated by Hayward’s absence from on-location shooting, are noticeably artificial.
This is glaringly obvious in some scenes. At first, junks noisily move through the water as they ferry people and cargo around, and then Hayward is seen in what is obviously an indoor set. The sound of water traffic is barely audible even though she’s supposed to be a passenger on one of the vessels. These moments take away from the immersion in the scene, which otherwise feels vibrant.
Director Edward Dmytryk is best known for gripping war dramas such as “Back to Bataan” (1945) and the phenomenal “The Caine Mutiny” (1954). In this film, he keeps the pacing light and engaging, even if the plot never fully capitalizes on its political backdrop.
The setting, British-controlled Hong Kong on the edge of communist China, offers plenty of potential for intrigue. Yet the film sidesteps the deeper, inherent problems with communism in favor of a straightforward rescue mission.
The climactic incursion into China is staged well enough to be exciting, and while the danger at hand never feels truly perilous, the sequence delivers solid action and adventure thrills.
The film’s romance develops a bit too quickly, but thanks to Gable’s charm, it’s easy to get swept up in his banter with Hayward. Though the love story overshadows the political intrigue, the film maintains an enjoyable blend of suspense, humor, and action.
The supporting players—Michael Rennie as the good-natured British inspector Merryweather and Gene Barry as the hapless husband—add a bit of texture, even if their characters are underdeveloped.
“Soldier of Fortune” doesn’t break any new cinematic ground, but as a star-driven Hollywood adventure, it delivers on spectacle and escapism. Gable proves once again why he remained a commanding leading man.
While it might have worked better with a more developed story and a more positive message about marriage, it still offers a charming blend of suspense and adventure.
[featured image caption suggestion: The exotic backdrops are gorgeous with majority of the scenes filmed on location. Hank Lee...]
