That's what a Japanese nurse tells House on Un-American Activities Investigator John Wayne (as the title character) about her feelings towards Communism when he questions her about her Communist ex-husband. Wayne's obsessively conservative politics take over his likable box-office appeal in this unfortunate political drama that only paints part of the picture. Halliwell's "Film Guide" described this film as a "Curious and rather offensive star vehicle in which the right-wing political shading interferes seriously with the entertainment value". I do not profess to be an expert on communism, but I do understand that the Red Scare of the late 1940's and 1950's was an era in Hollywood that destroyed many innocent people, and films like this, "The Red Menace" and "I Was a Communist For the FBI" are just as manipulative as the dangers they are preaching against. Layered with an unfortunate narration by Wayne in character, and a prologue of alleged communists being questioned, it is rather obvious from the beginning and ultimately self-serving.
Wayne, an All-American hero whose appeal cannot be denied, was certainly entitled to "Freedom of Speech", but with the preachiness of this screenplay, he totally looses credibility. When Communists are seen, they are as obvious as the stereotypical Nazi's of those propaganda filled World War II movies. In the more serious war films, the most dangerous Nazi's were actually those who were cultured yet evil when it came down to performing their mission. Had Hollywood presented a different side of the "Red Scare", rather than just always one, these films might hold up better today. James Arness is perfectly cast as Wayne's co-hort (they seem like brothers), while Veda Ann Borg and Hans Conreid offer amusing supporting roles. I actually began to like the film just a tad bit more every time the blowzy Borg came on screen, especially in her drunken restaurant scene. "72 Inches of a Real Man!" she coos at Wayne as only she could in that femme fatal way. The humor, though, is utilized really to sidetrack the viewer. Filmed in black and white, the photography makes the film really uninvolving considering its Hawaiian setting.
Wayne, an All-American hero whose appeal cannot be denied, was certainly entitled to "Freedom of Speech", but with the preachiness of this screenplay, he totally looses credibility. When Communists are seen, they are as obvious as the stereotypical Nazi's of those propaganda filled World War II movies. In the more serious war films, the most dangerous Nazi's were actually those who were cultured yet evil when it came down to performing their mission. Had Hollywood presented a different side of the "Red Scare", rather than just always one, these films might hold up better today. James Arness is perfectly cast as Wayne's co-hort (they seem like brothers), while Veda Ann Borg and Hans Conreid offer amusing supporting roles. I actually began to like the film just a tad bit more every time the blowzy Borg came on screen, especially in her drunken restaurant scene. "72 Inches of a Real Man!" she coos at Wayne as only she could in that femme fatal way. The humor, though, is utilized really to sidetrack the viewer. Filmed in black and white, the photography makes the film really uninvolving considering its Hawaiian setting.