High Road to China (1983) – Film Review

Director: Brian G. Hutton
Cast: Tom Selleck, Bess Armstrong, Jack Weston
Certificate: PG

By Sarah Morgan

There was a period in the late-1980s and early-1990s when High Road to China never seemed to be off the TV, and that was fine by me because I was madly in love with Tom Selleck at the time.

Tuning in for episodes of Magnum, PI was a weekly ritual, one that couldn’t be missed – thank goodness for the family video recorder!

But then, suddenly, it disappeared. Other, newer films came to take its place, and while I never forgot about it, even I moved on (although not necessarily from my admiration of its hirsute star). So when a chance to review a shiny new Blu-ray release of the film came up, I jumped at a chance to take a trip down memory lane.

“Ebullient”

For the uninitiated, Selleck plays Patrick O’Malley, a boozy biplane pilot who, in 1920s Istanbul, is approached by heiress Evie Tozer to help her find her father, who is missing in China. If he can’t be located, she stands to lose her fortune.

The trip turns out to be rather more dangerous and exciting than either of them expected. It involves battling a warlord’s army, assassins and numerous airborne escapades. It’s a thrilling ride for them – and for us too. And although the ending holds few surprises, the film is so ebullient and beautifully shot by Brian G Hutton (who also brought us Where Eagles Dare and Kelly’s Heroes, no less), it doesn’t matter.

Selleck oozes an easy charm, and his chemistry with co-star Bess Armstrong, who plays Evie, is reminiscent of that between Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby.

At the time of High Road To China’s release, it was accused by some critics of being a cheap rip-off of Raiders of the Lost Ark, a kind of consolation prize for Selleck, who had missed out on playing Indiana Jones due to his Magnum filming commitments. However, it’s based on a book that pre-dates Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster and had been in the works for years, with Roger Moore and Jacqueline Bisset initially lined up, with John Huston as director. When Bisset dropped out, Bo Derek was approached. It’s hard to imagine them being better.

“Finest hour”

Wilford Brimley also appears as Evie’s father and, in one of the tale’s few jarring moments, Brian Blessed plays a warlord, using his booming voice to good effect, but the slightly brown face make-up may upset some viewers. Look out too for such solid British character actors as Michael Sheard, Timothy Bateson, Jeremy Child and Robert Morley among the supporting cast.

Listen out too for John Barry’s soundtrack, which is rather beautiful.

Special features include an in-depth interview with Armstrong, in which she recalls some of the difficulties and tragedies that befell the production. Why she didn’t become a bigger star is a bit of a mystery.

Still, at least we can now watch her finest hour and 45 minutes whenever we like, for which I, at least, am thrilled about.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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