The Shanghai Gesture main backdrop
The Shanghai Gesture main poster

The Shanghai Gesture

Visit website

6.2/10 • 63

1941-12-251h 39m

Drama

Mystery-lure of the Far East!

A gambling queen uses blackmail to stop a British financier from closing her Chinese clip joint.

Directors
Josef von Sternberg
Writters
James M. Cain, Karl Vollmöller, Josef von Sternberg, Geza Herczeg, Jules Furthman
Editors
Sam Winston

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Victor Mature

    Victor Mature

    Doctor Omar

  2. Ona Munson

    Ona Munson

    'Mother' Gin Sling

  3. Gene Tierney

    Gene Tierney

    Victoria Charteris (aka "Poppy Smith")

  4. Walter Huston

    Walter Huston

    Sir Guy Charteris

  5. Phyllis Brooks

    Phyllis Brooks

    Dixie Pomeroy

  6. Albert Bassermann

    Albert Bassermann

    Van Elst

  7. Maria Ouspenskaya

    Maria Ouspenskaya

    The Amah

  8. Eric Blore

    Eric Blore

    Caesar Hawkins

  9. Ivan Lebedeff

    Ivan Lebedeff

    Boris

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jan 8, 2023

6/10

"Sir Guy Charteris" (Walter Huston) is an entrepreneurial British developer who has his eyes on the gin-palace of "Mother Gin Sling" (Ona Munson). The latter woman is running her successful den of iniquity and has no intention of acquiescing to the venal aspirations of her new nemesis. Determined to fight back, she enlists the help of the rather unscrupulous "Dr. Omar" (a rather mis-cast Victor Mature) to ensure that "Poppy" (Gene Tierney) - the daughter of "Charteris" - is introduced to the delightful effects of opium! The story becomes further complicated when it transpires that there is a personal history between the millionaire and the casino owner - and soon a plan is afoot to bring down retribution on his head. This has the look of an older "Charlie Chan" film to it, one without the charisma of Warner Oland or Sydney Toler. The scenarios are all very predictable and there is far too much dialogue as the tale meanders along for an over-long ninety minutes before a rather underwhelming, melodramatic, conclusion. Despite her relatively lowly billing, the films belongs to Munson when she appears, otherwise it's all pretty procedural daytime fayre.

Media

  • The Shanghai Gesture poster
  • The Shanghai Gesture poster
  • The Shanghai Gesture poster
  • The Shanghai Gesture poster
  • The Shanghai Gesture poster

Recommendations

  • Sanjuro main backdrop

    Sanjuro

    7.9

  • Design for Living main backdrop

    Design for Living

    7.2

  • To Be or Not to Be main backdrop

    To Be or Not to Be

    7.8

  • Underworld main backdrop

    Underworld

    7.0

  • Equinox main backdrop

    Equinox

    5.2

  • Whirlpool main backdrop

    Whirlpool

    6.4

  • The Thing main backdrop

    The Thing

    6.2

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl main backdrop

    Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

    7.8

  • Scarface main backdrop

    Scarface

    8.2

  • The Substance main backdrop

    The Substance

    7.1

  • Interstellar main backdrop

    Interstellar

    8.4

  • Inglourious Basterds main backdrop

    Inglourious Basterds

    8.2

  • The Lighthouse main backdrop

    The Lighthouse

    7.5

  • Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One main backdrop

    Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

    7.5

  • The Prestige main backdrop

    The Prestige

    8.2

  • Oppenheimer main backdrop

    Oppenheimer

    8.1

  • The Lobster main backdrop

    The Lobster

    7.0

  • Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga main backdrop

    Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

    7.5

  • Killers of the Flower Moon main backdrop

    Killers of the Flower Moon

    7.4

  • Inception main backdrop

    Inception

    8.4

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
casinoshanghai, chinagamblinggigolofilm noirshowgirl