STOPOVER TOKYO

US, 1957, 100 minutes, Colour.
Robert Wagner, Joan Collins, Edmond O'Brien, Ken Scott,
Larry Keating.
Directed by Richard L. Breen.

Stopover Tokyo is a colourful action thriller using Japanese locations. Robert Wagner is adept at this kind of hero. A young and attractive Joan Collins is the heroine. Edmond O'Brien has no trouble as the villain. The film is based on a novel by J. P. Marquand. Familiar material of its kind - entertainingly done.

1. The popularity of this kind of colourful espionage thriller? A film of the 1950s?

2. Japanese location photography, colour? The travelogue touch? Action sequences? Musical score?

3. The focus on Japan? Counter-espionage work? Communist plots? Politics, High Commissioners? Bombings? The familiar material of espionage and counter-espionage?

4. Robert Wagner's style as Mark Fannon? Arrival in Tokyo, his cover, the encounter with Tina, her help? The search for information about George Underwood? The contact with Nobika? Tony Barrett? The attempts on Mark's life? Nobika's being shot? The messages? The search for documents? Explosives? The attitude of the High Commissioner?. The dedication of the peace memorial? Tony's help? the booby trap? Tina and her not going with Mark? The loner American hero?

5. Underwood and his contacts with the Communists, the plan to blow up the peace memorial? The death of the High Commissioner? The contacts with Mark? Suave style? Brutality? The shooting of Nobika? Of Tony? The counteracting of the plot?

6. Tina and her work in Tokyo, Tony Barrett? Friendship with Mark? Helping him to get information? her discovering the truth about both being agents? Glamorous heroine?

7. The High Commissioner, his attitude towards the plot, his going to the dedication of the peace memorial?

8. The Japanese agents? Contacts?

9. The picture of Communist activities at the time? American involvement? Japanese experiences in the decade after the war? A thriller of its time?