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The Shanghai Gesture

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6.2/10 • 64

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

Top Billed Cast

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  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

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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
  • The Shanghai Gesture poster

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