Review of Secret Agent of Japan

This film takes place just prior the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor with a beautiful woman named "Kate Murdoch" (Lynn Bari) casually walking into a place called "the Dixie Bar" in Shanghai. Her interest appears to be in purchasing some jade from a man named "Captain Larsen" (Ian Wolfe) but it becomes quite clear that there is something unusual about this transaction due to the amount of interest being shown by certain other shady characters within the bar. To make matters even more complicated a Japanese gambler by the name of "Saito" (Noel Madison) wants to purchase the bar even though the owner, "Roy Bonnell" (Preston Foster) has no interest in selling it. What Roy doesn't realize is the methods Saito is prepared to utilize in order to get what he wants. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a nifty little spy drama which the producer (Darryl Zanuck) managed to rush into production quickly after Pearl Harbor to maximize potential interest. Although the cast isn't that great both Lynn Bari and Preston Foster manage to make the most of out of their characters to enhance what otherwise would have been a routine grade-B film. Slightly above average.