Malaya
“When you kiss a girl in Malaya...keep your eyes wide open and a gun in your hand!”
Synopsis
Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, cynical former newspaper correspondent John Royer devises a scheme with his old editor and government agents to return to the Far East and smuggle out a vast amount of rubber for the war effort. Demanding the freedom and company of his ex-friend, Carnahan, whom he betrayed in an exposé years earlier, Royer sails off into the hands of the Japanese with a motley crew, gold, and the promise of covert government aid.
Top Cast
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Spencer Tracy
Carnaghan
James Stewart
John Royer
Valentina Cortese
Luana
Sydney Greenstreet
The Dutchman
John Hodiak
Kellar
Lionel Barrymore
John Manchester
Gilbert Roland
Romano
Roland Winters
Bruno Gruber
Richard Loo
Colonel Genichi Tomura
Ian MacDonald
Carlos Tassuma
Tom Helmore
Matisson
DeForest Kelley
Lt. Glenson (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox
Naval Officer with Businessmen (uncredited)
Robert B. Williams
Army Sergeant (uncredited)
David Fresco
Barracuda Ed (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 27, 1949
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Thorpe
- Screenplay & Story
- Frank Fenton
- Original Score
- Bronislau Kaper
- Original Title
- Malaya
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Thorpe
Frank Fenton, Manchester Boddy
Bronislau Kaper
George J. Folsey
Ben Lewis
Edwin H. Knopf
Department Leadership Roster
Frank Fenton
Screenplay
Richard Thorpe
Director
Bronislau Kaper
Original Music Composer
George J. Folsey
Director of Photography
Ben Lewis
Editor
Edwin H. Knopf
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Malaya.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Malaya.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Malaya
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Malaya about?
Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, cynical former newspaper correspondent John Royer devises a scheme with his old editor and government agents to return to the Far East and smuggle out a vast amount of rubber for the war effort. Demanding the freedom and company of his ex-friend, Carnahan, whom he betrayed in an exposé years earlier, Royer sails off into the hands of the Japanese with a motley crew, gold, and the promise of covert government aid.
Who directed Malaya?
Malaya was directed by Richard Thorpe.
Who stars in Malaya?
The principal cast of Malaya includes Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Valentina Cortese, Sydney Greenstreet, John Hodiak.
When was Malaya released and how long is it?
Malaya was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
Who composed the musical score for Malaya?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Malaya was composed by Bronislau Kaper.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Malaya?
Malaya holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).