http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLUvKf0fnQE#t=4m15s

A delightful surprise. It may be as subtle as a sledgehammer but Fuller creates a brisk crime mystery/drama which is willing to go from exploitation to a fascinating take on Japanese American culture within the space of a few minutes. James Shigeta steals the entire film as an exceptionally charming but thoughtful homicide detective, but everyone else is just as good.

Fuller uses a seedy crime to launch into an exploration of identity and race relations. A Burlesque dancer, two cops and two artists take center stage, and while all five are initially presented as just that, the the plot that intertwines their personal and professional lives uncovers quite a bit about how they're perceived by others, how they perceive themselves, and the interplay between the two.

There is no amount of Japanese-American exploitation in here like one would expect. Well maybe the score going into these cheasy faux Eastern style cues, but that's about it.

Cliched noir, pretty boring.

Hard to find, but worth the effort.

Part noir crime thriller, part love triangle, part racial issues movie. It handles all parts with some finesse, but it's the last that is the most striking. Fuller treats Japanese-Americans with a respect and dignity you don't see much of, even in today's films. Not a condescending stereotype in sight, even Asian music is incorporated into the score without a hint of caricature. The film has a good deal of style and makes excellent use of Los Angeles locations.

Fuller's crime melodrama deals bluntly with issues of racism and miscegenation. Graphic and fascinating, but not a major film.