“Across the Pacific” (Movie Review-9/5/42)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 9/5/42 | Bosley Crowther

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

“Across the Pacific” opening credits

“Across the Pacific” more clips

“Across the Pacific” movie posters

[Homer_J_Simpson]

As Crowther notes, this movie reunites some of the “Maltese Falcon” people. John Huston, Bogart, Sidney Greenstreet, Mary Astor.

“Across the Pacific” original trailer

[GEC]

Frankly, when I saw this film late at night 20 years ago, I realized that it was racist justification for the unconstitutional internment of thousands of American citizens during WWII.

Not quite as bad as Beat the Devil, but only because I could understand the dialogue.

Bogie should have turned this one down.

[Verginius Rufus]

I remember seeing this movie a long time ago. There is a minor character who seems to be a very patriotic Japanese-American, but turns out to be loyal to the Emperor. Looking at the credits it appears the actor was probably Chinese-American.

It's easy to condemn people for how they acted in 1942 without knowing if we would have avoided being carried away with the hysteria of the time about the danger posed by Japanese living in the US.

In WWI the Australian and New Zealand governments interned many immigrants (including naturalized citizens) who were born in the Austro-Hungarian empire, even those who detested the Austro-Hungarian control of their homeland and wanted to fight for the Allied cause. Was that racist? They were white (just of the wrong ethnic background). Similar to what the US government did to the Japanese (without the excuse of a sneak attack by the Austrians on any British base).

[GEC]

Thanks for the response VR.

I understand the desire not to look back and judge by different standards, but I also hope that we learn from our mistakes.

Ronald Reagan recognized that it was wrong for Roosevelt to intern the Japanese-Americans.

The loss of freedom was bad enough, but Reagan also felt compelled to pay reparations for loss of property.

We can learn from our mistakes without giving a pass to people who made bad decisions.

Thanks,

George