- Josef von Sternberg's Macao, much like his earlier film The Shanghai Gesture, presents Hollywood's interpretation of Asian culture as directed by an Austrian. While some of the background stock footage originated in Macau and Hong Kong, you're more likely to spot a Russian (Vladimir Sokoloff) or an American (Thomas Gomez) impersonating a native of Macau than you are to see an authentic Asian (Philip Ahn) actor. Rickshaws abound, and the English-speaking characters exclaim "Chop, chop!" much more often than anyone should. It's that kind of film.
- The story revolves around an American expat named Nick Cochran (Robert Mitchum) who runs across a singer named Julie Benton (Jane Russell) while on a boat to Macau. The two are constantly interrupted by a traveling salesman named Trumble (William Bendix), who is a little too enthusiastic to be legit. All three characters end up in the orbit of a gambling parlor owner named Halloran (Brad Dexter), a shady fellow who is conspicuously aware of just how far he can travel from Macau's shores before being arrested. Halloran's assistant Margie (Gloria Grahame) has a much larger heart than her employer, even if she is guilty of loading the dice.
- I was interested to learn that Macao had a notoriously difficult filming, with von Sternberg apparently mishandling the actors to the point of mutiny. (As a result, Nicholas Ray was later called in to handle reshoots.) I can attest to the fact that the two leading ladies both turn in completely lackluster performances, so maybe von Sternberg is to blame. Russell, in particular, delivers every line with a snarl, rendering her already aloof character completely unlikeable. Mitchum is never the worst part of any film he's in, but Bendix swoops in to steal most of his scenes. The background footage of Macau looks interesting enough, but the weak drama in front of it keeps obscuring the view.
