The noir "cliches come thick and fast," begins both the first review here as well as on the videobox, I was a sucker for the box description but the film never approaches being noir. It is a propaganda spy film for America fighting "Commies" in Korea, with the novelty of being entirely filmed in Japan(not a "re-creation of Japan"). Wouldn't Ike and Hawkeye Pierce be shocked to know the war was masterminded by a couple of Japanese guys in tweed jackets? The plot is basically the same as the political drama "The Ugly American," and though there is some intrigue and a femme fatalistic Marlene Dietrich impersonator, it is mainly filmed without a noir look or moody soundtrack. It has all the subtlety and nuance of the low-budget serials of the 1940's, not so odd a coincidence since the distributor (VCI) specializes in serials. While it might be entertaining given the expectation that it is a mild war-spy drama, it will only disappoint anyone looking for noir.
Review of Tokyo File 212
