In post-war China, a disgraced former USAF pilot flies smuggled goods into the country.
He attempts to force his immediate superior, Ramon Perez (Marvin Miller), to pay him more, but Perez resists, so Brad steals the cargo back.
Intrigue (1947) is not featured on the great and many bountiful film noir discussion websites and books because it is a classy example of the film noir style.
It does however bear repeat viewing, and combines noir underworld themes with geo-politics and American foreign policy, to create an interesting set of circumstances in post-war China ― narrative forming, and not racially aware in a fashion that was not uncommon in the 1940s, although it has no intention to offend.
Intrigue’s intention in fact, as its happy ending ― an element which pulls it away from its underworld noir roots, as well as the rootless and entrepreneurial criminality portrayed by George Raft, as it central character.
Unlike many a noir hero, because he is in fact a war hero. George Raft as Brad Dunham comes good ― he’s great with the kids, which we see in several quite uncomfortable scenes in which young Chinese actors make jokes about Brooklyn and George Raft ruffles a lot of hair. And there is the happy ending.
This is war after all, and foreign policy. Via the powers of journalism, the morally dubious become virtuous and all star American values are installed.
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