Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

alexanderdavies-99382 "Across the Pacific" was a film that re-united three actors from "The Maltese Falcon" and was also directed by the same director, John Huston. I didn't realise that Vincent Sherman took over the directing after Huston was drafted into the Second World War. "Across the Pacific" was supposed to have a different ending but the one that was used is very good. Bogart is an American government agent who goes undercover by using a front of being a disgraced Army officer, whilst investigating Sidney Greenstreet who is in league with Japan and who is their ally during the Second World War. Once again, Bogart and Greenstreet are engaged in a battle of wits. Mary Astor doesn't really have much to do and I found her character to be rather irritating. She is much better in "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Great Lie." The film plays more along the lines of being a bit "comic strip" in the way the story unfolds but it is enjoyable all the same. It has a good pace, some intrigue and a thrilling climax. I enjoyed the scene that demonstrated the art of Judo, especially when Bogart is on the receiving end!

John T. Ryan IN THE ORDER of things, this film comes three after THE MALTESE FALCON (Warner Bros./1941) and just one before CASABLANCA (Warner Bros./1942). This means that we are treated to a Boagy who is possessed of rapidly rising stock in the Filmworld. After the Former, Mr. B.'s resume qualified him as a more than competent Leading Man in Action film; whereas the Latter proved his worth as a Romantic lead.WITH THE RELEASE of this wartime drama, ACROSS THE PACIFIC (Warner Bros./1942), we witness the re-uniting of THE MALTESE FAlCON's Director, John Huston with Bogart, Mary Astor and Sydney Grenstreet. This was the 4th film done by Mr. Greenstreet; who had been a Stage Actor with a forte of Musical Comedy, before first stepping before the camera & bright lights at age 63!WITHOUT OUR GETTING too deep into the story, suffice it is to say that we have a drama that involves the World War II, Pacific Theatre, espionage, treason and the lowly and cowardly behaviour of those seeking wealth at all cost. The basic plot has been used in other movies, including one with another one of Warners' big Stars.WE HAVE THE benefit of a large cast of supporting players, featuring a good number of Hollywood's Asian Community; such as: Keye Luke, Victor Sen Young and Richard Loo. John Hamilton makes a typically authoritative portrayal as the Army Officer heading the Court Martial.OF ALL OF the performances by the principal players (and they were excellent), it was Sydney Greenstreet's portrayal of the Professor with the uncanny affection for all things of the Orient; especially that of Imperial Japan, the Rising Sun and "the East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere."AFTER MUCH TALK about the "superior" culture of the Far East and how he lives it, Dr.Lorenz (Greenstreet) is unable to take his own life, pleading with Rick Leland to "put just one bullet" in his temple. THE COWARDLY NIPPONFILE didn't have the courage to end his own life by committing 'Jack Brickhouse'. Oh excuse us, Schultz! We meant 'Harry Caray'!

atlasmb This film contains many aspects of the noir, including the clipped bantering dialogue with the clever intent. Coming soon after The Maltese Falcon, Across the Pacific is something of a mystery movie too.Rick Leland (Humphrey Bogart) is a disgraced military man with dubious loyalties. He gets on a Japanese ship that is sailing to New York City, the Canal Zone and the Orient. While onboard, he becomes familiar with the other passengers: a western businessman named Dr. Leland (Sydney Greenstreet) who has a penchant for all things oriental and a smalltown woman named Alberta (Mastor Astor) who is taking a pleasure cruise.But we sense all is not as it seems. Will Rick sail off into the Japanese sunset, bitter at the country that snubbed him? Will the doctor reveal an insidious intent? Will Alberta prove to be more than a romantic foil for Rick?The action takes place not long before the U.S. would be forced to enter the war. Tensions are high. Eventually there is gunplay and all motives are revealed. Along the way, ATP proves to be an interesting film. The ending reminded me of another film that would follow in 1959--North by Northwest. ATP is a high stakes game of cat and mouse that coexists with a lighthearted romance.My one complaint is that Mary Astor is not an actress I think would inspire lust in Bogart's Rick. Someone like Rita Hayworth would better fit the bill.

SimonJack Over the years, I've come to look for posted comments from a few specific people who are frequent film reviewers. They usually have some interesting information or data related to the film, the cast or the staff. And, their tastes and interests seem to follow mine closely. Without mentioning any names, I found a couple of those regulars who commented on "Across the Pacific," but with whom I differed a lot. I think many reviewers missed a great deal in this movie. For one thing, most seemed to focus on one or two cast members. Several said that Bogie's performance was just OK and not on a par with most of his best work. Many seemed to want to evaluate this film only or mostly on the basis of it being a propaganda piece. With that goes an apparent assumption that all propaganda is all bad – or that it could have no other value on which to be judged or enjoyed. Too bad for those narrow views. I found this film very entertaining, very interesting and considerably intriguing. Indeed, I think it may be one of the best films of the Hollywood golden age in the group of multi-faceted genres. And what a number of genres it is – mystery, espionage, comedy, romance, action, war, drama and adventure. Of course, starting off, the viewer isn't aware of these many facets of the film, unless one has read a review or comments. But they unfold very nicely in the movie. This film has a great blend of intrigue, witticism, romance and action. The script is excellent and the writing is crisp and clever. The several exchanges between Bogart and Astor are delightful and show the genius of the screenwriters. Here's a sample when Bogart is called to Astor's cabin to help cool off her sunburn (which he had warned her against twice). Before that, she had been freezing on deck in shorts trying to get a tan; and she had gotten seasick after eating desert when the 'boat' hit rough seas. Bogie – "You sure are a girl of many colors. First your legs get blue, then your face turns green, and now you're red all over." Astor – "I never knew what suffering was 'til I came on this 'pleasure' trip." Bogie – "Your trouble is ... you always have all the answers – 'til the results are posted."Sydney Greenstreet is a delight, as always. There are a number of scenes when he gives the stoic mini-monologues he is so identified with that paint him a man of culture, refinement and education. However cunning and clever he may be, aside. This has a fresh, crisp script for all involved. And, the propaganda aspects of the film are very neatly woven into the intrigue and romance. The film came out Sept. 5, 1942, and although the plot is fiction, we are all too aware of the time and circumstances. On the day the passengers arrive in Panama and Bogie visits a contact in a bank, the contact hands him a newspaper that has the all too-familiar headlines of peace prospects promised by the Japanese right up to the time of Pearl Harbor. The date on the paper is December 6, 1941. The new DVD in the Bogart film collection I bought also has some interesting extras. One is a color short, "Men of the Sky," about the Army Air Corps. It's a promo film and shows pilot training and a talk by Gen. Hap Arnold who commanded the Army Air Forces during WWII, and later commanded the U.S. Air Force. Another interesting short is "Hollywood helps the Cause." It tells about the role of film companies and movie stars during WWII.