CHINA MOON

US, 1991, 99 minutes, Colour.
Ed Harris, Madeleine Stowe, Benicio Del Toro, Charles Dance, Pruitt Taylor Vince.
Directed by John Bailey.

China Moon is a 1990s film noir. It is reminiscent of the femme fatale thrillers like Double Indemnity and, especially, Body Heat. It was filmed in 1990-91 but not released until 1994 because of the bankruptcy of the production company, Orion. (This also happened with the Tommy Lee Jones-Jessica? Lange film, Blue Sky, which was released in 94 – enabling Jessica Lange to win an Oscar for best actress of 1994.)

Ed Harris is a competent detective who falls in love with a woman he sees at a bar. She is in a loveless marriage with a rich banker (played, with an American accent, by Charles Dance). They begin an affair. Harris and his partner, played by Benicio Del Toro, investigate assault charges.

However, the wife, played by Madeleine Stowe, has a plan for the death of her husband and inheriting his fortune. She implicates Ed Harris who goes along with concealing the death of the husband, getting rid of the body. He also lies to the police. In the ensuing investigation, the body is easily found, difficulties with the bullets and the gun, holes in the wall of the house.

There is a sudden twist, showing that the partner is implicated in the plan, is trying to be one better than his partner – and has planned the whole scheme with the wife. However, she has fallen in love with Harris – and there is a brutal ending.

The film was directed by John Bailey, celebrated cinematographer who began his work in 1972 and continued for many decades.

1. The title and its evocation? Kyle Bodine’s explanation, the full moon? Rachel and Kyle and their response to the moon?

2. The small-town setting, the police precinct? Homes? The river? The contrast with the scenes in Florida, the hotel? Authentic feel? Musical score and mood?

3. The plausibility of the plot? While the story was on-screen? Reflecting afterwards, the behaviour of Rachel, the setting up of the killing and its concealment, the behaviour of Kyle? The advice and planning of Lamar Dickey?

4. The focus on Kyle and Dickey, their work together, investigating murders? Kyle and his skills, leadership? Dickey as the apprentice? The relationship between the two? Mentor and apprentice?

5. The opening with Rupert Munro and his assignation with his secretary? His behaviour? The mysterious photographer? The later appearance of the photos? The clue with the compass that it was Dickey’s car? Kyle and his understanding of what had happened?

6. The relationship between Rachel and Rupert Munro? Rupert and his assertiveness, his token wife, his brutality at home, his demands on her? His relationship with his secretary? His violence towards his wife – and her shooting him?

7. Rachel in the bar, Kyle seeing her, the attraction? Her drinking? His infatuation, continued visits, phone calls, the sexual relationship? Going to the river? His passionate behaviour? Her response?

8. The setting up of the killing, Rachel going to Florida, in the hotel, the light on in her room? Her signing out? Her travelling home, the confrontation with her husband? The plan to go off with Kyle, her packing? The shooting? Her dependence on Kyle? The disposal of the body in the river? The cleaning up of the house? The plastering of the walls? The lack of contact between them – except for her phone call?

9. Kyle, his denials of any relationship with Rachel? The police captain, his putting Kyle on leave?

10. The investigation, Lamar and his leading the investigation? The times, the phone calls, the information? Finding the body? The bullets (and the explanation of the switch)? The gun, Kyle’s, Kyle working out how the markings came on the bullets, firing into the sand? Kyle having put the gun on the roof of a travelling truck?

11. Kyle, the accusations? His going to the bar, the set-up with Lamar, urging Rachel to come? Lamar, the gun, going to the car, the bartender calling the police? Kyle and his reaching for the gun under the seat, the police arriving, Lamar calling out, Kyle being shot? Rachel and her declaration to the dying Kyle? Her taking the gun and shooting Lamar?

12. The elements of film noir, 1990s style?