Shanghai Express main backdrop
Shanghai Express main poster

Shanghai Express

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7.0/10 • 206

1932-02-121h 22m

DramaRomanceWarCrimeHistory

Many Men Had Loved Her -- but only one had been loved in return!

A beautiful temptress re-kindles an old romance while trying to escape her past during a tension-packed train journey.

Directors
Josef von Sternberg
Editors
Frank Sullivan

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Marlene Dietrich

    Marlene Dietrich

    Shanghai Lily

  2. Clive Brook

    Clive Brook

    Captain Donald 'Doc' Harvey

  3. Anna May Wong

    Anna May Wong

    Hui Fei

  4. Warner Oland

    Warner Oland

    Mr. Henry Chang

  5. Eugene Pallette

    Eugene Pallette

    Sam Salt

  6. Lawrence Grant

    Lawrence Grant

    Reverend Carmichael

  7. Louise Closser Hale

    Louise Closser Hale

    Mrs. Haggerty

  8. Gustav von Seyffertitz

    Gustav von Seyffertitz

    Eric Baum

  9. Émile Chautard

    Émile Chautard

    Major Lenard

Reviews2

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Apr 14, 2020

8/10

When I needed your faith, you withheld it; and now, when I don't need it, and don't deserve it, you give it to me. Shanghai Express is directed by Josef von Sternberg and written by Jules Furthman (adaptation) & Harry Hervey (story). It stars Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brooks, Anna May Wong, Warner Oland, Eugene Palette and Lawrence Grant. Music is by W. Franke Harling & Rudoplh G. Kopp and cinematography by Lee Garmes. Plot finds Shanghai Lily (Dietrich) meeting up with old flame Donald Harvey (Brooks) aboard the Shanghai Express during the Chinese Civil War in 1931. However, this train has many passengers with secrets to hide, so when some rebels ambush the train, such things as loyalties, friendships, hidden motives and the birthing of legends come to the fore. Stylishly crafted by Sternberg and brisker than the other collaborations with Dietrich, Shanghai Express thrives on atmospheric visuals, strong scripting and a sultry turn from the leading lady. The cramped confines of the train allow Sternberg to dally with trademark shadows, smoke and shafts of light for maximum effect, garnering Garmes an Oscar in the process, while there is deft deadpannery amongst the myriad of intriguing characters. Quality film making on both sides of the camera and also off of the writers desk. 8/10

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
prostituterapechinashanghai, chinarebelex-loverinsurgencechinese civil warblack and whitebeijing, chinapre-codebased on short story