Movie review - "China Doll" (1958) **

Victor Mature didn't often get the chance to work with top flight directors but Frank Borzage's great days were clearly behind him with this dull melodrama. Despite being set in an interesting time - American flyers in China in 1943 - he manages to suck all the excitement and thrills out of the story leaving us with racist, sexist codswallop. Mature, looking very old, is an American pilot who after a big night on the tiles finds himself in possession of a Chinese woman. He tries to get rid of her but priestWard Bond explains it'll be an insult and she might be forced into prostitution (dad sold her), so Mature keeps her on as housekeeper. She can't speak any English and follows him around like an obedient dog so of course they fall in love and she gets pregnant. He marries her, they separate, she dies in a Japanese bombing attack and he dies.... but their baby daughter is allowed to live.

Mature emotes effectively towards the end - he wasn't a bad actor, and it's not his fault the film is awful. (It's also slow and dull). I normally like movies about pilots in the third world but this takes itself too seriously. The supporting cast is of some interest, including Stewart Whitman and Bob Mathias.