MALAYA

US, 1949, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Valentina Cortesa, Sydney Greenstreet, John Hodiak, Lionel Barrymore, Gilbert Roland.
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

Malaya is based on actual events. Lionel Barrymore plays a real-life editor who thought up the plan for getting rubber from Malaya, away from the Japanese, to help the war effort.

The film is a buddy movie, surprising when the two buddies are played by James Stewart and Spencer Tracy. Stewart portrays a young idealistic type while Spencer Tracy is the cynical man who has been released from prison. The supporting cast includes Sydney Greenstreet, doing his usual thing, in his last film. Valentina Cortesa made a number of American films at this time before returning to Italy.

The film is action adventure, a glimpse back at the war situation, an interesting look at the tough kind of hero, Warner Bros style, played by Spencer Tracy.

James Stewart’s first film, in fact, was Murder Man in 1935 which starred Tracy.

The film is directed by Richard Thorpe who directed many films at MGM and went on to make some of their action historical spectaculars like Knights of the Round Table and Quentin Durward. He directed Robert Taylor in quite a number of films.

1. An entertaining action adventure?

2. Black and white photography? M.G.M. production values? Atmosphere of Eastern locations? The contrast between American and the East the war atmosphere? Musical score - addition of songs, for example 'Blue Moon' sung by Luana?

3. The conventions of the war film and the adventure drama in the East? The adventures, the war, the sleazy atmosphere, heroic, action and betrayal, heroics and final triumph? How well done? combination of the talents of Spencer Tracy and James Stewart and their particular styles?

4. The film was based on factual incidents. How authentic did the personalities and the plot seem? Contribution to the war effort and America's involvement? The background of John Royer, his journalistic work? John Manchester and his ideas about rubber and its place in the war effort? The American officials and their attitude towards the question? Royer and his contacts especially Carnaghan? The heroics, the contacts, the personalities and the adventurers in Malaya itself? The strategies for getting the rubber? Dangers and risks? A tribute to the personnel involved? Good material for action drama?

5. The film's initial focus on Royer? His abrasive personality, the background of his work? Being approached by the government and his ideas? His contacts with American officials? The joining up with Carnaghan and their hostility from the past? Royer persuading Carnaghan to be involved? Their work together, their attitudes to work, the pressure that they put on the rubber plantation owners? The personal involvement and emotions especially with Luana? The collaboration with the Dutchman? Royer's heroics and the saving of Carnaghan? The achievement of Royer?

6. Spencer Tracy's style as Carnaghan? prison background and his resentment towards Royer? His motivation for becoming involved? His links with the Dutchman and his power of persuasion? Being reunited with Luana and the bond between them? His heroics in contacting the plantation owners and persuading them to give their rubber? The brushes with the Germans? The skill in his strategy and manoeuvres? The war and the risks that were presented? His achievement?

7. The presentation of the Americans especially Manchester and Kellar? The memoirs of Kellar?

8. The people in Malaya especially the Dutchman at his saloon, the people who not there? Luana and her presence, the exotic touch of the siren? Romano and the other adventurers who were employed?

9. The presentation of the plantation workers and the risks with their rubber, the motivation for letting the rubber go, the hopes of payment? The varied personalities and the dangers? Their response to Carnaghan?

10. The adventure sequences and especially the dangers and the possibility of Carnaghan's death and the way that he carried off his escape? Timing, the American Navy to the rescue?

11. How satisfying an entertainment? Audience response to the adventure ingredients and identification with the adventurers? The background of patriotism?