Rich Coffman

Robert Mitchum at his best. there are a lot of other well-known character actors in this movie. It could need a bit more development though by about another 10 minutes.

I spent 9 years in China only to be reminded by this movie about the struggle of the Chinese people's evolution in forming a unified nation. It also exposes the turmoil within the Chinese culture and the last of the dynastic nature befalling the Qing dynasty. The influence of the West and other cultures upon China since Marco Polo's time in the 1200s thru the 1800s and finally the conflict and imperialistic nature of those influential cultures on Chinese society which finally lead to the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the 20th Century from 1899 to 1901.

Always liked Mike Starr and Armand Assante. Frank Vincent did a great job and has been around for years but never had a lead part until this. I liked the lighting, camera work, and rain effects.

Great writing and actors. Martin Shaw portrays the sensitivity blended with humor that makes his character more believable.

I was a boy of 9 yrs living in upstate New York when this show came out. My father, who was ex-military, and I watched this show every week on our 19" GE b/w TV. The show was also a big influence on my paternal grandmother who was always prodding me to do my best to be nominated for West Point...later years I got as far as the Civil Air Patrol when I changed direction more toward science when Sputnik launched during the cold war years and President Kennedy spoke of going to the moon.