Shanghai Express (1932)

Many passengers on the Shanghai Express are more concerned that the notorious Shanghai Lil is on board than the fact that a civil war is going on that may make the trip take more than three... See full summary »

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writers:

Jules Furthman (screenplay), Harry Hervey (story)

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marlene Dietrich	...	Shanghai Lily
Clive Brook	...	Captain 'Doc' Harvey
Anna May Wong	...	Hui Fei
Warner Oland	...	Mr. Henry Chang
Eugene Pallette	...	Sam Salt
Lawrence Grant	...	Reverend Mr. Carmichael
Louise Closser Hale	...	Mrs. Haggerty
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Eric Baum
Emile Chautard	...	Major Lenard

Storyline

Many passengers on the Shanghai Express are more concerned that the notorious Shanghai Lil is on board than the fact that a civil war is going on that may make the trip take more than three days. The British Army doctor, Donald Harvey, knew Lil before she became a famous "coaster." A fellow passenger defines a coaster as "a woman who lives by her wits along the China coast." When Chinese guerillas stop the train, Dr. Harvey is selected as the hostage. Lil saves him, but can she make him believe that she really hasn't changed from the woman he loved five years before?

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Plot Keywords:

shanghai | civil war | china | chinese | doctor | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Cantonese German

Release Date:

12 February 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

El expreso de Shanghai

Filming Locations:

Santa Fe Railroad Depot - 1170 W. 3rd Street, San Bernardino, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

China initially banned the movie, demanding its withdrawal from worldwide circulation. The ban was lifted when Paramount pledged not to make another film involving Chinese politics.

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Goofs

The telegraph forms shown on screen are filled out in Chinese and meant to be Chinese, but in fact are in English and therefore American.

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Quotes

Shanghai Lily: 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.

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Connections

Referenced in Lili Marlene (2007)

User Reviews

Please refrain from further bashing of Clive Brook

Certainly one of the greatest films yet made (even I still have hope there will be more!), not least for the beautifully restrained performance of Clive Brook. Apparently the depiction of nobility and restraint is lost on modern audiences. Not a surprise, since these qualities seem to be almost entirely lost to modern society! OK, off the soapbox. This is one of the most moving stories ever depicted on film (compare, too, with Nicholas Ray's "In a Lonely Place," which tells a similar tale of misunderstandings that destroy a deep love -- without the happy ending that is so welcome in "Shanghai Express.") All the supporting players brilliantly portray their variously flawed characters, and the direction is simply breathtaking. Note, for instance, the multi-layered dissolves in the opening sequence. A stunning film -- I think it the best of the seven magnificent Sternberg-Dietrich collaborations. (This is the fourth, and, perhaps significantly, it was made after Sternberg took a break from Dietrich with his "American Tragedy." Did Sternberg realize how much he missed having her... and was he inspired beyond all measure? So it would seem. This and the succeeding three films, "Blonde Venus," "The Scarlet Empress," and "The Devil is a Woman" make anything else from the period -- from any period -- pale by comparison.)