High Road to China 1983

In a lavish 1920s European hotel, a seemingly ordinary man enters his room, unaware that another man is lurking in the shadows, intent on killing him. Just as danger is about to strike, a gunshot rings out, and the assassin is brought down by Charlie, the devoted personal chaperon of Eve Tozer, a wealthy socialite who stands to inherit her father’s fortune. Unbeknownst to Eve, her father has been missing for years, and a sinister plot orchestrated by her father’s business partner, Bentik, has emerged to declare him legally dead, leaving her assets at risk. Determined to uncover the truth and find her father, Eve embarks on a thrilling journey.

Initially struggling to secure transportation to the far reaches of Asia, where her father was last seen, Eve eventually gets a lead to Patrick O’Malley, a local pilot. O’Malley, a World War I flying ace with a penchant for alcohol, is initially reluctant to accept Eve’s request for help. However, after a surprising display of her own piloting skills during a daring flight, he agrees. With preparations underway, they arm their two biplanes, with O’Malley instructing his mechanic, Struts, to mount Lewis-type machine guns for the perilous mission ahead.

As Eve and Charlie stroll through a crowded street, assassins sent by Bentik ambush them. Charlie sacrifices himself to ensure Eve’s escape, further igniting her resolve to continue her quest. She reunites with O’Malley, and together with Struts, they manage a narrow escape from Bentik’s henchmen and take to the skies.

Their journey leads them to a British airbase in Iraq, where O’Malley’s recklessness with alcohol becomes apparent during a night at the officers’ club, highlighting his troubled past as he’s confronted about his war record. The next leg of their adventure takes them to a tribal camp in Afghanistan, where the local leader, Sulehman Khan, holds Eve’s safety in jeopardy. He hopes to use O’Malley’s expertise to wage war against the British while holding Eve and Struts hostage. Just as hope seems lost, a brave Nepalese woman named Alessa offers to lead them to safety and discloses that Eve’s father might still be alive.

O’Malley’s daring nature shines through as he cleverly manipulates his mission with the Khan’s nephew during a crucial flight. While they manage to evade their pursuers, their adventures take a toll, especially on Eve, who faints upon learning of her father’s absence in Nepal. Nursing her back to health, O’Malley finds himself embroiled in a conflict with Bentik, who employs a ruthless German flying ace, Von Hess, to finish the job.

In a gripping encounter, O’Malley engages in a fierce dogfight with Von Hess, defending them both from imminent danger. The duo, with renewed determination, dives deeper into their search for Eve’s father, eventually tracing him to the distant province of Sinkiang. Here, they finally reunite with Bradley Tozer, who has been rallying the local villagers against the tyrannical General Wong.

O’Malley finds himself ascending to new heights alongside Eve as she joins the battle in an aircraft, bravely dropping grenades to aid her father. However, mid-battle, she is struck down, prompting O’Malley to rush to her side and confront their pursuers. As the dust settles from the fierce conflict, Tozer manages to secure a decisive victory, resulting in a heartfelt reunion between father and daughter, and a romantic moment between Eve and O’Malley sparks amidst the chaos.