Golden Gate (film)

Plot

In 1952, 22-year-old Kevin David Walker becomes an FBI agent in San Francisco after graduating law school. Under the influence of the Second Red Scare and rising Maoism, he investigates Chinatown residents for Communist sympathies. While on patrol with his partner Ron Pirelli, Kevin discovers money transfers from a local laundry to Hong Kong by three Chinese American workers. Despite weak evidence, pressure from his superior and nationalist appeals lead Kevin to press charges, sending the three men to prison.

His lover Cynthia breaks up with him over his decision. Ten years later in 1962, Kevin remains an FBI agent while Ron becomes head of the San Francisco branch. After the three men are released, Ron orders surveillance on Chen Jung Song, considered the ringleader. Chen faces ostracism in Chinatown and struggles at his job.

Witnessing a woman crying, Chen runs madly through the streets, pursued by Kevin to the Golden Gate Bridge. Overcome with guilt, Kevin offers help, but Chen curses him to "become a Chinaman" before leaping to his death.

Reception

The film received mostly negative reviews. Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle wrote that screenwriter David Henry Hwang never achieves a consistent tone, at times making the early 1950s settings feel like a parody. She noted that director John Madden provides little control over characters moving toward inevitable destinies, and that the film drowns in good intentions. The film was listed among the top 10 worst films of the year by William Arnold of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and by Dan Webster of The Spokesman-Review.