Don Benton (Richard Basehart) is a former WWII pilot running a travel agency out of Hong Kong. He's approached by a government official about help with locating a downed plane inside mainland China. The plane was carrying an agent with vital secret information. At first Benton doesn't want to help, but changes his mind when he discovers the plane's pilot is an old friend.

Passport to China (lor Visa to Canton) is a different sort of Hammer film. Spy/adventure films aren't what you normally associate with Hammer. Overall, this one goes over about as well as a lead balloon. It's dull, overly talkative, and lacks any sort of real suspense. The mission is handled all too easily and all too casually by Benton. He just sort of waltzes into Canton, shoots a Russian official, and makes his way back to Hong Kong - easy peasy. As with most Hammer films, director Michael Carreras isn't helped by the limited budget. The stagebound sets are distracting. But not as distracting as the non-Asian actors poorly playing Asian roles. Athene Seyler looks downright silly in her Chinese get-up speaking a sort of horrible pigeon English. Finally, there's lead actor Richard Basehart. He's just all wrong form the role. He never comes across as anyone capable of pulling off the mission he's faced with. It's poor casting and a poor performance.

3/10

VISA TO CANTON is a middling exotic thriller from Hammer Film Productions, directed by Michael Carreras, one of the leading figures behind the studio but a man whose best work was a producer rather than behind the camera. His output here is leaden at best and saddled with a dull leading man in the form of American import Richard Basehart, who travels into Red China in order to track down a missing man. There's some fun to be had with character stars like Burt Kwouk and Bernard Cribbins, but the thrills are in short supply and you never feel truly invested in the plot. Hammer did much better with their next Chinese production, the thrilling pulp adventure of TERROR OF THE TONGS.

This film has virtually nothing to commend it.The only plus is the colour photography of Hong Kong 60 years ago.The plot is inconsequential,dull and very talky.With ridiculous casting.Athene Sayer as a Chinese woman and Eric Pohlman as a Russian General.The Chinese extras have to crowd around the small backlot,giving a general cheapskate air to the proceedings.