One of the most tantalising “what ifs” in the history of cinema is related to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Tom Selleck was Steven Spielberg’s original choice to play Indiana Jones. Selleck was enthusiastic about the role, but previous commitments to Magnum, P.I. TV series and sense of honour made him decline the role, which ultimately went to Harrison Ford. Now we can only speculate about what the film and the franchise would have looked like with Selleck in the iconic role. However, 1983 period adventure film High Road to China might give us some ideas.
The plot, based on the novel by popular Australian writer Jon Cleary, begins in 1920s Constantinople. Eve “Evie” Tozer (played by Bess Armstrong) is a young and rich American heiress who finds that her opulent lifestyle might soon come to an end. Her father has disappeared in Afghanistan three years ago and his business partner Bentik (played by Robert Morley) wants to have him pronounced dead in order to take over the company, thus depriving Evie of inheritance. After being informed that she has only twelve days to bring father to court, Evie concludes that she could beat the deadline only if she uses the plane. She is an accomplished pilot and has the aircraft, but she would need two. Thankfully, a very talented pilot and Great War veteran Patrick O’Malley (played by Tom Selleck) is nearby with his own biplane. Pressed by debts he reluctantly agrees to bring his mechanic Struts (played by Jac Weston) and accompany Evie on her long and perilous journey over half the continent. Along the way small expedition encounters rebellious tribesmen, evil warlords and Bendick’s henchmen who try to stop Evie.
Produced by Golden Harvest, Hong Kong film studio which was trying to penetrate Western markets in early 1980s, High Road to China suffered because of the inevitable comparisons with Raiders. Director Brian G. Hutton tried very hard, but he couldn’t have hidden this film’s lower budget. On its own, High Road to China is a decent film. Made mostly on locations in Yugoslavia (mainly around Croatian port city of Rijeka), it nevertheless manages to pass them for distant lands on the other continent. The script is, on the other hand, rough around the edges and often relies on cliches, including the obligatory initial dislike between the male and female protagonist, which would predictably blossom into full blown romance before the end. Some action scenes aren’t that exciting and rely too much pyrotechnics, but the aerial cinematography and use of actual biplanes is quite good. High Road to China at the end features quite interesting battle scene. The acting is very good, with Bess Armstrong shining in the role of initially arrogant flapper girl. Selleck shines in his first major film role as dashing romantic hero but he also brings something of a serious note in the scene that suggests his character’s drinking problem to be consequence of an unpleasant wartime experiences. Famous British character actor Brian Blessed is over the top as colourful tribal chief while Wilford Brimley adds to the film by convincingly playing Evie’s eccentric father. Another asset well-used in the film is solid, but not particularly memorable soundtrack by John Barry. In the end, High Road to China is solid and unpretentious piece of cinema, but the viewers who miss it shouldn’t feel too bad.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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