Blood Alley

Blood Alley (William Wellman, 1955) This production of John Wayne's independent production company, Batjac Productions, Blood Alley must have felt snake-bit from the word "go." Director William Wellman had done a couple of films for Wayne, and Robert Mitchum had starred in the previous Batjac show directed by Wellman, Track of the Cat, and started filming on this film.

 

But, for whatever reason—Wellman thought it was weed, Bacall thought it was booze—Mitchum and the director did not get along on this one, and after an altercation in which Mitchum attacked one of the crew, Wellman contacted Wayne and delivered an ultimatum: "Either he goes or I go."

 

"Wild Bill" stayed. Mitchum went. 

 

But, the film needed a star to play opposite the already-cast Lauren Bacall. Gregory Peck didn't like the script. Humphrey Bogart wanted too much money. So, with a film in production and money on the line, Wayne interrupted his honeymoon to go on location to save the investment on the movie. Not that he had to go very far; this story about the evacuation of a village population out of Communist China was being filmed just outside of San Rafael in San Francisco Bay.

You know it's a different kind of "Duke" movie when the opening scene has Wayne (as Capt. Tom Wilder) talking to himself. John Wayne characters do not talk to themselves. There may be monologues, and he'll even do a scene talking over a grave with credibility. But, any introspection in Wayne's characters do so quietly, without a lot of fuss. So, it's a bit of a hurdle to jump when Wayne's Wilder starts out as a prisoner in a Chinese cell babbling to an imaginary "lady-in-waiting" he calls "Baby." Lord knows how long he's been in that prison—and Wayne plays it with an almost drunken exhaustion to make you think it's been awhile—but, it just doesn't "play."

Wayne's Wilder makes things difficult for his captors by setting fire to his mattress, which they quickly replace with another—rather accommodating for a Chinese prison, as I don't think a 5-star hotel would replace a mattress that fast—in which is secreted a pistol, a Russian officer's uniform, and a note giving him a rendezvous point. Not only is the prison's housekeeping department efficient, they have a great mail department. Security—not so much. So, Wayne escapes because he's over 6 foot, broad in the beam and wearing a Russian uniform in a Chinese prison and must have just walked out because he "blends." We're not shown this, of course, because we have to save up our credulity for the rest of the movie.

Wayne transitions from his cell to walking along a river bank where he comes across "Big Han" and his fishing vessel. Here's another thing about Blood Alley: casting. There are a lot of Chinese actors in the film, mostly background characters, which is all to the good. But, "Big Han" is played by Mike Mazurki, the well-regarded Ukrainian character actor. I only mention he's Ukrainian so as to point out that he is not Chinese. Neither is Paul Fix, who plays a village elder, nor is Berry Kroeger (another elder), and certainly not Anita Ekberg (!!) who plays the very small part of Han's wife, Wei Ling (she has no dialog as she would speak it with a Swedish accent). Look, I'm not so regimental that I think actors can't act parts, or I'd be rejecting Al Pacino in Scarface, or Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, and Paul Muni in...everything. But Paul Fix? Anita Ekberg? Couldn't we get somebody from the same hemisphere? On that one point, though, there is one little piece of casting that gave me great joy. I'll leave that to the end.

The main plot is that the village of Chiku Shan has made plans to abandon mainland China and transport all 180 residents to Taiwan by hijacking a stern-wheeler which makes a regular stop on it's regular route up and down the coast. From there, they'll navigate through the Strait of Formosa, known as "Blood Alley," to get away, hence the springing of Capt. Wheeler, who knows the waters, knows the dangers, and hates the commies. It's all been arranged by the village elders and Cathy Grainger (Bacall), daughter of the village doctor, who has recently been taken by the Communists for medical help.

Wellman keeps it moving, although sometimes the Cinemascope frame stumps him. The locations are nicely picturesque—you could believe it's not San Rafael—and the stern-wheeler is as grubby as the African Queen only with 180 extras (genuinely Chinese) and becomes something of a character itself. Wayne is crusty and gruffly paternalistic towards his passengers—but then he always is—and Bacall tries—tries—to make something out of a scripted romance with Wayne*, but it's not too convincing. They're a bit better being at odds with each other; after all, both actors are especially good in conflict.

And that's interesting. At the time, Wayne was deep in his crusade of ridding Hollywood of Communists, and Bacall was very much present in protesting the work of the House Un-American Activities Committee. They couldn't have been farther apart politically and there were attempts, by some in Hollywood, to persuade Wayne to not use Bacall for the picture because of her "pinko" views. Wayne ignored them. But, when Mitchum left the production and Wayne brought in to replace him, Bacall got worried. Instead of any animus, Bacall (in her autobiography) says she found him "to my surprise, warm, likable and helpful,"** and director Wellman "great! A fascinating man!" 

Later, she'd found out that it was Hedda Hopper who'd suggested she be cut—"Don't tell me how to cast my picture" Wayne reportedly growled—and a couple years later at a Clifton Webb-hosted cocktail party, (again from her autobiography) she confronted Hopper calling her "a bitch to try and keep me from working." Hopper replied that, for such an offense, Bacall had every right to give her a kick. "Whereupon she turned around and I kicked her in the ass - most unladylike but very martini-like. Whereupon everyone laughed out loudly and a truce was declared." I think that's my favorite thing about Blood Alley.

Oh, except for one thing. Watching it recently, I spotted a familiar face, that of a much-beloved character actor, in what was (maybe?) his fourth role on-screen—but not credited—as a Communist soldier who enters a room, says a line and leaves. But, it warmed my heart to see him: James Hong, all of 26 years old, unmistakable, and starting a career which continues today. I guarantee you've seen him in something.  Great actor...for comedy and drama, as he proves time and again.

* There is one line I loved—after going through a particularly rough time during a violent storm, Bacall makes a confession that she might be falling for the Captain and Wayne drawls "I think you got me confused with the storm..."

** Wayne was like that, evidently. Ideologically strict. But, personally, he was a gentleman, almost courtly, to women, and "one of the boys" around men. Did they get along? Bacall says when husband Humphrey Bogart was diagnosed with cancer, the first flowers came from Wayne. And when casting for The Shootist (which would, ultimately, be his last film), he asked for Bacall. In September, 2021, the John Wayne Estate released a note they'd found that she'd written to Wayne in 1979, while he was battling his final fight with cancer. 

 

Dear Duke,

This has been on its way to you for months. You have been so very much in my thoughts.  I never have been able to tell you how much you’re standing up for me in ‘Blood Alley’ days meant to me. I wanted to say it on ‘The Shootist’ — never could somehow. — know how difficult that film was for you. You have the guts of a lion — I do admire you more than I can say.  It was so great to see you Academy Award nite. I’m being inarticulate — I want you to know how terrific you are and how really glad I am to know you. You give more than [you] know — I send you much love — constant thoughts

Betty.