Malaya (1949): cast, story & where to watch
1949 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1949, Malaya is a drama and adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe, running about 98 minutes. “When you kiss a girl in Malaya...keep your eyes wide open and a gun in your hand!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. After living abroad for several years, journalist John Royer returns to the United States just after the U.S. enters World War II. His boast that he could easily smuggle rubber, a key wartime natural resource, out of Malaya has him tasked with doing just that. He manages to get someone from his past, Carnaghan, sprung from Alactraz and together they head off to South East Asia posing as Irishmen. Once there, Carnaghan lines up some of his old cronies and with Royer and a few plantation owners plans to smuggle the rubber out from under the Japanese army's watchful eye.
Who’s in it. Malaya stars Spencer Tracy as Carnaghan, James Stewart as John Royer, Valentina Cortese as Luana and Sydney Greenstreet as The Dutchman, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Malaya has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Malaya page.
If you liked it. Fans of Malaya tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Malaya (1949)?
- In US, Malaya is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Malaya worth watching?
- Malaya holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and adventure. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Malaya?
- Malaya stars Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Valentina Cortese, Sydney Greenstreet and John Hodiak.
- When was Malaya released?
- Malaya was released in 1949, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.