WORLD FOR RANSOM

US, 1954, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Dan Dureya, Gene Lockhart, Patric Knowles, Nigel Bruce, Arthur Shields, Reginald Denny, Douglas Dumbrille, Marian Carr, Key Luke.
Directed by Robert Aldrich.

The World for Ransom was the second feature film directed by Robert Aldrich who was to go on to a very successful career with Kiss me Deadly, The Dirty Dozen and other action films. He is not credited on this film, or though he had directed some episodes of the television series China Smith/ Captain China with star Dan Dureya.
The film uses the same characters and cast as the television series as well as using the same sets. However, they created a new story, set in Singapore, involving international criminals, a local rubber gangster, the British military, the governor. Interestingly, most of the supporting cast are veterans of films of the 1930s and forties.
The point of interest is the scientist with the knowledge of hydrogen bombs and his abduction.

1. A small-budget thriller? Deriving from a TV series? Characters, locations, studio sets?

2. Thrillers of the 1950s, Dan Dureya and his starring role, soldier of fortune in Singapore? The hydrogen bomb context? Rubber plantation gangsters? International plots? The British military and governor? The meaning of the title?

3. The cast, from the thirties and forties? Studio sets, same locations, musical score?

4. The focus on Mike, his presence in Singapore, war service, friendship with Julian, love for Frennessey? Acting as a private eye for her? The clashes with Julian, suspicions? His encounter with Pederas? With the Singaporean gangster? Wanting information?

5. Julian, his past, marriage to Frennessey? Involved with Pederas? His impersonating the British military? Picking up O’Connor? at the airport, transporting him, knocking him out, keeping him in the countryside? The associate, his brutality, and the photo taken by Wong? Going to the studio and killing him?

6. Mike, at the club, the dancing, the barman, tracking down Julian? The help of the rubber gangster? Promises to Frennessey?

7. The pursuit, the English officer, letting him go through, then making contact, going to the safe house, the attack?

8. Mike, the grenades, getting into the house, the threats, detonating them? Saving O’Conner? The British military and his being wounded?

9. The returned to Frennessey, her confessing the truth about herself, her love for Julian, rejection of Mike?

10. Popular ingredients for action adventure as well as television series?