Okay, let's dust off that imaginary VHS sleeve, maybe blow on the cartridge slot for good measure, and settle in for a trip back to 1983. Remember that specific flavor of adventure film that bloomed in the wake of Raiders of the Lost Ark? Films full of exotic locales, dashing heroes, feisty heroines, and just a touch of old-world romance? Well, slide High Road to China into the VCR, because it’s a prime example, a film brimming with charm even if it never quite reached the stratospheric heights of its fedora-wearing cousin. This wasn't the tape everyone rented every weekend, but finding it felt like discovering a hidden gem on the video store shelf.
### A Race Against Time, By Biplane
The premise hooks you with classic pulp urgency: It's the roaring twenties, and spoiled socialite Eve Tozer (Bess Armstrong, fresh and spirited) learns her missing industrialist father (Wilford Brimley, perfectly gruff) must be found within 12 days, or his conniving business partner will declare him legally dead and seize the family fortune. Her only hope? Hiring dissolute, hard-drinking, but undeniably ace pilot Patrick O'Malley (Tom Selleck) and his pair of beloved vintage biplanes, affectionately named "Dorothy" and "Lillian." What follows is a grand, episodic journey across continents – from Istanbul through Afghanistan and the Himalayas, all the way to China – as Eve and O'Malley race against the clock, bicker charmingly, fall for each other (naturally!), and dodge various perils.
### Selleck Takes Flight (Almost as Indy)
Let's be honest, a huge part of the appeal here is Tom Selleck. Riding high on the phenomenal success of Magnum P.I., Selleck absolutely radiates movie-star charisma as O'Malley. He’s got the rugged good looks, the easy charm, the glint of danger in his eyes – everything you want in a WWI flying ace turned adventurer-for-hire. It’s impossible not to think about the fact that Selleck was famously George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s initial choice for Indiana Jones, a role he had to turn down due to his Magnum contract. High Road to China often feels like his chance to play in that same sandbox, and he grabs it with both hands. His chemistry with Bess Armstrong is palpable; their sparring has a screwball energy that really clicks, evolving believably into romance amidst the chaos. Armstrong gives as good as she gets, portraying Eve not just as a damsel in distress but as a resourceful and determined woman finding her footing outside high society.
### Wings Over Wonders
Director Brian G. Hutton, no stranger to large-scale action with credits like Where Eagles Dare (1968) and Kelly's Heroes (1970) under his belt, brings a steady hand to the proceedings. While the plot sometimes feels like a series of loosely connected vignettes rather than a tightly wound thriller, Hutton excels at capturing the sheer spectacle. The real stars, alongside Selleck and Armstrong, are those magnificent biplanes. The aerial photography is genuinely breathtaking, especially considering the pre-CGI era. Watching Dorothy and Lillian soar over the rugged (Yugoslavian, standing in for Asian) landscapes provides moments of pure cinematic joy. You can almost feel the wind whistling past the cockpit. There's a tangible quality to the action; the dogfights and daring escapes feel grounded and thrilling thanks to skilled stunt pilots and practical effects work. The film reportedly cost around $15 million – a decent sum back then – and much of it feels like it’s right there on screen in the gorgeous location work and those flying machines. It didn't quite set the box office alight, pulling in about $28.4 million domestically, making it more of a modest success than a blockbuster, which perhaps contributes to its slightly "cult favorite" status today.
### A Supporting Crew and Sweeping Sounds
The journey is enlivened by a reliable supporting cast. Jack Weston provides welcome comic relief as Struts, O'Malley’s perpetually exasperated mechanic, grounding some of the more fantastical elements. Look closely and you'll also spot familiar faces like Robert Morley adding a touch of British class. The script, adapted from the novel by Jon Cleary by Sandra Weintraub Roland and S. Lee Pogostin, keeps things moving at a decent clip, prioritizing adventure and romance over intricate plotting.
But perhaps the film's most potent weapon is its score. The legendary John Barry, maestro of James Bond themes and sweeping epics like Out of Africa (1985), delivers an absolutely glorious, lush, and unabashedly romantic score. It elevates every scene, lending the adventure a sense of grandeur and emotional weight that might otherwise be lacking. It’s one of Barry's finest non-Bond scores, full of soaring themes that perfectly capture the romance of flight and discovery. Close your eyes, and the music alone takes you on that high road.
### Finding the Charm in the Clouds
High Road to China isn't perfect. The pacing occasionally dips, and some of the plot points rely heavily on convenience. Its depiction of foreign cultures leans into the broad stereotypes typical of the era's adventure serials. Yet, its charms are undeniable. It possesses a sincerity and a wide-eyed sense of adventure that’s incredibly endearing. It doesn't aspire to be deep; it wants to entertain, to whisk you away on a thrilling ride with characters you enjoy spending time with. For those of us who discovered it nestled on the shelves between bigger hits at the local video store, it felt like a special find – a comfortable, exciting adventure yarn perfect for a Saturday afternoon. My own well-loved tape certainly got its share of rewinds focusing on those thrilling biplane sequences!
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
Why this rating? High Road to China earns a solid 7 for its sheer escapist charm, Tom Selleck's magnetic lead performance, genuinely thrilling practical aerial sequences, and John Barry's absolutely magnificent score. It captures that specific early 80s adventure spirit wonderfully. It loses a few points for a somewhat episodic plot and pacing that sometimes lags, preventing it from reaching true classic status, but its heart is firmly in the right place.
Final Thought: Like O'Malley's trusty biplanes, High Road to China may not be the fastest or the most cutting-edge vehicle, but it offers a wonderfully scenic, undeniably romantic flight back to a golden age of cinematic adventure. Fire up the engines; the view is still worth it.