Blood On The Sun (1945)
Nick Condon is a newspaper reporter working in Tokyo who refuses to toe the Japanese line on the expansionist policies of the anti-democratic Imperialist government. When it becomes clear to the authorities that Condon isn't going to cooperate and that he has some valuable information and contacts, they decide to get him in their clutches for some interrogations and then dispose of him.
TO KNOW THEIR SECRET...IS TO COURT DEATH!
Iris Hilliard: Japanese women aren't allowed to think. It's against the law.
Nick Condon: Forgive your enemies, but first get even.
General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
According to the DVD sleeve notes, prior to production James Cagney trained intensively in the martial art of judo in preparation for his role. He trained under Ken Kuniyuki, who was a 5th Degree Judo Master. Cagney insisted that he perform his own stunts. He said in his memoirs, "I grew so fond of judo I used it to keep in shape until a back injury I picked up doing something else put me on the sidelines." Moreover, another instructor for Cagney was former LAPD policeman John Halloran, who plays the role of Capt. Oshima and can be seen in the closing fight sequence. Apparently Halloran quit the LAPD after FBI agents investigated him because he was an expert in judo.
James Cagney would chat with Sylvia Sidney in Yiddish between takes.
The movie is based on the history behind Japan's alleged Tanaka Plan, aka the Tanaka Memorial document (it was made public after his death in 1929). This allegedly was Prime Minister Baron Gi-ichi Tanaka's militarist strategic plan for world domination prepared for Emperor Hirohito. It was first printed in China by the Chinese communists and in the US by a communist periodical, leading some to think that it was a forgery. No Japanese version has ever been found.
The Tokyo Imperial Hotel bar seen at the start of the movie is apparently an exact replica of the bar situated in the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The DVD sleeve notes claim that this was one of the first American martial arts movies. Though not a martial arts movie by modern standards and definitions, judo is seen in the movie and with James Cagney performing it. Cagney insisted on doing his own stunts in the film.
Continuity
In an early scene when Ollie Miller stumbles through the window at Condon's home, he falls completely inside. However, as soon as Nick gets there, Miller's feet protrude out over the bottom of the panel.
When Tanaka accuses Iris of treachery, she stands up from her chair and faces him, positioning herself away from the chair and closer to the sofa. As he leaves, she is seen back closer to the chair and turned so that she is now facing the opposite direction.
Revealing mistakes
Right after Ollie Miller gets shot, he stumbles to the ground. When he gets up, under his left elbow, there is carpet moving where there should be grass.
Miscellaneous
In the opening credits, the copyright is "MCMLXV." which is 1965. The film was produced in 1945, so the copyright should read "MCMXLV."
Audio/visual unsynchronized
During the fight Condon versus Oshima there are various and obvious mismatchs between audio and visual actions.