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Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. AmethystChina, 1949: and while sailing down the mighty Yangtse, Her Majesty's HMS Amethyst finds her path to the open sea obstructed by those loveable rogues the Red Army. Since the commies are armed to the teeth, it looks like the ship will become the centre of a lengthy hostage saga. But the Orientals have reckoned without Lieutenant Commander Kerans (Richard Todd) who armed only with a fine military mind and the stiffest of upper lips is determined to liberate his vessel no matter what the cost.
Adapted from Lawrence Earl's book by the estimable Eric Ambler, Yangtse Incident belongs on a shelf alongside such 1950s British war dramas as The Dam Busters and Reach For The Sky. Like those films, Michael Anderson's picture spins a strong story while making decent use of stock footage and real military hardware. And it features a familiar leading man in the shape of real-life war hero Richard Todd, who having been quite excellent as bomber ace Guy Gibson, equips himself very well as the courageous Commander Kerans.
On the down side, Yangtse Incident is guilty of some appalling 'blacking up'. But while the casting of Georgian actor Akim Tamiroff (Touch Of Evil) as the villainous Colonel Peng should upset right-thinking people the world over, Anderson's picture wears its jingoism relatively lightly. And while it's very clearly a product of its time (women - know your limits), it's hard to take against a movie that doesn't allow post-war austerity to effect the level of entertainment. For evidence of this budget busting, looking no further than the choice of location. Were the movie made today, shooting would either take place in China or a friendly neighbouring country. Back in 1957, Anderson had to make do with Suffolk's River Orwell, the serene body of water that gave one Eric Blair a good idea for a pseudonym.
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