13 Aug I Was an American Spy
“I Was An American Spy poster” by Source (WP:NFCC#4).
(1951) I had only been watching this movie for a few minutes when I realized that I had read about the main character, heroine Claire Phillips, in the book “Ghost Soldiers.”
She was an American living in Manila when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and then the Philippines. Soon after, her husband Sgt. John Phillips was killed by the Japanese. Claire joined the resistance and went back to Manila to open up a ritzy nightclub under an assumed identity. Soon she found that she was able to obtain key information from the Japanese officers who frequented her place, information that was relayed to the Allies. She was also able to get valuable items to the prisoners who survived the Bataan Death March and were being held at nearby prison camp Cabanatuan.
After the war Claire was awarded the Medal of Freedom for her wartime service. This movie is based on her memoirs published in 1947, “Manila Espionage.”
I have to agree with the 1951 New York Times Review on this one. “It is sad to see a gallant lady on display in such a threadbare little showcase.” I enjoyed the movie because it was about her.
Phillips was originally from Portland, Oregon. I was interested to find that in May a forum was held in that city about her exploits. At that site are links to recent articles written about her. It seems that she had a tough time recovering from the aftereffects of the war.
You can read about the efforts underway in Portland now to build a memorial and monument to Claire “High Pocket” Phillips.
I Was an American Spy at amazon.com
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