CHINA SKY
US, 1945, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Randolph Scott, Ruth Warrick, Ellen Drew, Philip Ahn, Anthony Quinn.
Directed by Ray Enright.
China Sky was adapted from a novel by Pearl S. Buck (The Good Earth, Dragon Seed). Intended as a star vehicle for Claudette Colbert, it finished up as a small-budget, very short feature from RKO. The film is set during the time of the Japanese invasion of China and features Randolph Scott as a benign doctor working in a remote Chinese town. Ruth Warrick is his devoted assistant. Ellen Drew is the wife that he brings back to America who dislikes being in China and becomes jealous of his assistant. Philip Ahn, as in so many films of the time, plays a sinister Oriental, this time a half-Korean doctor who ends up sympathising with the Japanese. Anthony Quinn appears as a Chinese leader, adding yet another nationality to his multinational range of characters. The film is brief, rather obvious in its presentation of its characters, paralleling the Chinese couple with the American couple both in the difficulties of marriages as well as in deaths of the difficult parties.
1. The popularity of Pearl Buck's novels? Transferred to the screen? Her knowledge of China in the 30s and 40s? This film made at the end of World War II, its perspective on Japan, china and the war?
2. Black and white photography, the sets to create China? Musical score?
3. The title, the Japanese bombers, the parachutes at the end from the China sky?
4. The focus on Americans in China, their exercise of leadership, the presumed leadership of the Americans? Sympathetic to the Chinese? Some criticism of the Americans in the dialogue? The presentation of the Japanese, demonising the Japanese as enemies?
5. Gray Thompson and his work in the hospital, with people, bringing back his wife, hoping to have a happy marriage, the devotion of Sarah? His relationship with the rebel leader? The Japanese wounded officer, his wife's contact with the Korean doctor, sending the message? Her causing the deaths, his reaction? His reaction to Sarah's devotion? His wife's death? The happy ending at every level?
6. Sarah, the devoted American doctor, liked by the people, by Little Goat? The jealousy of Dr Kim wanting to be in charge? The loyalty of the Chinese nurse? Looking after the sick, the child, the Japanese officer? Going into the mountains with Dr Thompson? Her love for him, not wanting to interfere, the clashes with Louise?
7. Louise, the spoilt American, trying to make a marriage work, having caught her husband? Dislike of the Chinese, the bombings, taking refuge in the shelters? The Japanese prisoner? Being used by Dr Kim, sending the message, the parachutists, her being responsible for the deaths? Her own death?
8. Dr Kim, half Korean, half Japanese, promised in marriage to the nurse? His feeling passed over, wanting to be in charge of the hospital? His work, being found out by the Japanese, the pressure on him, using Louise? His death?
9. The rebel leader, capturing the Japanese and wounding him, wanting him to go to trial? His arrival in the town, leading the troops? His love for the nurse? The Japanese parachuted in, the clash, victory?
10. Little Goat, the touch of humanity - American style?
11. The picture of China during the war - a sketch, predictable characters and plot - impact on an American audience in 1945? On audiences now?
