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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Cagney is a crusading newspaper editor in 1930s Japan who's come into possession of the "Tanaka Plan" for world domination. Amidst political intrigue and crossed loyalties, Cagney must now find a way to warn the outside world. A fine, entertaining melodrama that's based in fact, with Cagney as good as ever, but this time with judo chops. If only the Japanese knew some kind of hand-to-hand combat, they might be able to stand a chance against Cagney. Dated only by its condescension toward the Japanese, Blood on the Sun never slacks its pace, providing quick-witted patter all along in the mark of the classic Hollywood style. It seems peculiarly American (in an inadvertent way, of course) that in the film's final moments the day should be saved by none other than Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont). Curiously, this is one DVD from Master Movies that does not contain optional Japanese subtitles. It does, however, have copious bios of the stars and filmmakers, and a crystal-clear picture. --Jim Gay
Product Description
James Cagney, Sylvia Sidney. A newspaperman stumbles onto a dangerous plot while stationed in 1930s Japan but remains virtually powerless to stop it, warning American officials who don't take him seriously. 1945/b&w/94 min/NR/fullscreen.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In "Blood on the Sun," James Cagney plays an expat newspaper editor who discovers Japan's plot for world domination. Made in 1945, the film is a bully piece of wartime propaganda--but it also has surprising depth. It isn't PC, but it's not all stereotype either. There are some real Asians in the film, the plot is a true story, and not all the Japanese are evil. That said, yes, there are a lot of quasi-offensive squinty-eyed caucasians with fake buck teeth in the film, too.
Cagney does a very good job as the editor. A bundle of self-assured energy, as ever, he nonetheless adds depth by trying to speak a bit of Japanese and Mandarin, and by doing some very credible judo. Matter of fact, his judo coach was LAPD's Jack Halloran, who also took a role in this flick and went on to become a regular Hollywood character actor!
The movie is filmed almost entirely in sets at the studio, which is unsurprising. Nevertheless, it looks fairly good. In fact, the "expat bar" set is a faithful reproduction of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed bar at the old Imperial Hotel in Tokyo!
Cagney was just coming off an Oscar and just out of contract with WB Studios. Here, he and his brother produced, and they did a decent job. In short, the films hold up. Not a major classic, but an exciting potboiler! And as a correction to various reviewers, the film takes place neither in "post-WWII Japan" nor "The 1920's" but in the 30's.
As a personal aside, I served many years as a US diplomat in Communist China--another ruthless east Asian dictatorship. Maybe some other viewers will find the Japanese officials in Blood on the Sun to be too fake, smarmy, and banal. I found them pretty realistic!
Cagney does a very good job as the editor. A bundle of self-assured energy, as ever, he nonetheless adds depth by trying to speak a bit of Japanese and Mandarin, and by doing some very credible judo. Matter of fact, his judo coach was LAPD's Jack Halloran, who also took a role in this flick and went on to become a regular Hollywood character actor!
The movie is filmed almost entirely in sets at the studio, which is unsurprising. Nevertheless, it looks fairly good. In fact, the "expat bar" set is a faithful reproduction of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed bar at the old Imperial Hotel in Tokyo!
Cagney was just coming off an Oscar and just out of contract with WB Studios. Here, he and his brother produced, and they did a decent job. In short, the films hold up. Not a major classic, but an exciting potboiler! And as a correction to various reviewers, the film takes place neither in "post-WWII Japan" nor "The 1920's" but in the 30's.
As a personal aside, I served many years as a US diplomat in Communist China--another ruthless east Asian dictatorship. Maybe some other viewers will find the Japanese officials in Blood on the Sun to be too fake, smarmy, and banal. I found them pretty realistic!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unfortunately, it's difficult to find a good transfer to DVD for this title. Fortunately, this version of Blood on the Sun is an excellent transfer to DVD! I've seen several other versions of this title and they are terrible quality transfers. This one by Image Entertainment studio is very nice.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This video is a must have item for any long time devotee of the Martial Art of Judo. Not only does it feature Jimmy Cagney in a Dojo during Class, but it also features a "Judo" fight in the climactic good vs evil battle at the end.
Sure, the fights scenes are a little hokey by today's standards, the Japanese villians are just Americans with bad makeup, and of course the movie is in Black & White, but this movie is now a permanent part of my Hollywood Judo movie collection. Well actually it's my only Hollywood Judo movie.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
great historical American Martial Art movie!
It is true that there are White people portraying Japanese, however this movie is a great product of its time... Read more
Published 10 months ago by D. Becker
BAD FILM
The film has many film problems on dvd. Hopefully I can get the VHS. Won't bother
tyring to get my money back because Amazon only gives half of your purchase in return. Read more
tyring to get my money back because Amazon only gives half of your purchase in return. Read more
Published 11 months ago by E. O. GAVIN
Good Movie
This is a good movie with James Cagney portraying a correspondent based in Japan during the period before the second World War. He is supported by a very capable cast. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sox Fan
About the Image/Hal Roach edition...
This is simply to tout the Image/Hal Roach DVD of 'Blood on the Sun'-- the movie itself is in most respects an average 1940s action-thriller elevated by another electric Cagney... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Brian
My Karate is superior
If you can find an earlier martial arts movie I challenge you to name it
Published 22 months ago by Jim Swarthout
Post WW2 anti-Japanese flick
The pugnacious James Cagney stars in this very heavily propagandized 1945 flick "Blood on the Sun". Cagney plays Nick Condon the feisty and successful newspaper editor of the Tokyo... Read more
Published on March 10, 2005 by Cory D. Slipman
America will be crushed, never to rise again
Based on a true story, BLOOD ON THE SUN is an entertaining little stewpot of a movie.
James Cagney plays Nick Condon, managing editor of the Tokyo Chronicle. Read more
James Cagney plays Nick Condon, managing editor of the Tokyo Chronicle. Read more
Published on May 14, 2004 by Steven Hellerstedt
Cagney Elevates Formulaic 'Yellow Peril' Film
By 1945, the war in the Pacific was rapidly drawing to a close, and one would think that Hollywood would have presented a then contemporary view of America's relation with Japan. Read more
Published on October 30, 2003 by Martin Asiner
Genuine Cagney
If you're a Cagney fan (especially a female one) I think you'll love this film. Cagney lays down some classic lines and is invloved in a number of romantic moments which will make... Read more
Published on September 12, 2003 by H. Sorrells
Historically Interesting, Carelessly Presented
These comments apply to the edition released by Artisan in July of 2003. Aurally and visually, this version is relatively clear, particularly when one considers its age. Read more
Published on August 2, 2003
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