The Shanghai Story (1954)

In communist China, a group of American expatriates are interned at a hotel while the authorities attempt to ferret out a spy in the group. Among them are a disillusioned doctor (Edmond O'Brien), a glamorous apolitical beauty (Ruth Roman) and a man (Richard Jaeckel) on the run from the law in several countries. This cold war potboiler from Republic studios is directed by Frank Lloyd (1935's MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY), one of only two films he made in the 1950s. It's got the usual Red paranoia and demonizing (the commies shoot a little dog in front of the child who owns it) and the screenplay is rather lax and illogical. Roman as the mystery woman who may or may not be a traitor comes off best as the script favors her character. However, if one is in a forgiving mood, it can be entertaining the way those modest "B" level Republic programmers often are. With Whit Bissell, Barry Kelley, Frances Rafferty, Paul Picerni, Yvette Duguay, Marvin Miller and what 1950s Far East setting movie would be complete without those Asian stalwarts, Philip Ahn and Richard Loo.