over the lead after Gregory Peck turned the film down and Humphrey Bogart requested a large amount of money to assume the role. Swedish actress Anita Ekberg, veteran actor Paul Fix, actor Berry Kroeger, and film character actor Mike Mazurki all play Chinese roles in Hollywood "yellowface". Awards Promotion The film was promoted by the appearance of Wayne on the number-one rated television show, I Love Lucy. In an unusual two-episode arc airing as the show's season opener on October 10, 1955, Lucy and Ethel steal Wayne's footprints from the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre the night before the premiere of Blood Alley, and complications ensue. During the second episode, a studio employee interrupts Wayne in his dressing room to show him a poster for Blood Alley. The film was also promoted during the closing credits. Critical reception Despite the star power of its lead actors and director, Blood Alley received a lukewarm reception from critics. The New York Times said, "Blood Alley, despite its exotic, oriental setting, is a standard chase melodrama patterned on a familiar blueprint." Today's critics have focused on Blood Alleys anti-communist aspect. DVD Talk called it "preposterous but entertaining" and said, "Wayne and Bacall have no chemistry at all". Home Media Blood Alley was released on DVD May 4, 2005 by Warner Bros. Home Video. The film was re-released on Blu-ray July 18, 2017 by the Warner Archive Collection. See also List of American films of 1955 John Wayne filmography Soldier of Fortune (1955 film), a movie with a similar plot References External links 1955 films 1955 adventure films American adventure films Films set in China Cold War films Batjac Productions films Warner Bros. films Films scored by Roy Webb Films directed by William A. Wellman Films produced by John Wayne CinemaScope films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films