West of Shanghai (1937)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

Porter Emerson Browne (play)
Crane Wilbur (writer)

Release Date:

30 October 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Plot:

Karloff is the Chinese warlord Fang, who holds a group of oilmen and missionaries hostage in a remote Chinese outpost.

Plot Keywords:

Missionary | Oil | Betrayal | Spy | China

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Gen. Wu Yen Fang
Beverly Roberts	...	Mrs. Jane Creed
Ricardo Cortez	...	Gordon Creed
Gordon Oliver	...	Jim Hallet
Sheila Bromley	...	Lola Galt
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	General Chow Fu-Shan
Gordon Hart	...	Dr. Abernathy
Richard Loo	...	Mr. Cheng
Chester Gan	...	Captain Kung Nui

Also Known As:

China Bandit (USA) (working title)
Cornered (USA) (working title)
The Adventures of Chang (USA) (working title)
War Lord
Warlords (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

64 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3010)

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

The original play takes place in the heart of bandit-infested Mexico, but to capitalize on the interest in China, the location was changed to China.

Quotes:

Gen. Wu Yen Fang: It was easy. I am Fang.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Bad Man (1941)

not bad

This somewhat obscure film is helped by a quick running time and the presence of Karloff. On the downside it is overly talky and the few battle scenes it has are generic.

The script is decent though, and my interest in the film was undoubtedly bolstered a bit because I find contemporary Chinese history to be intriguing (not that this is a textbook reproduction of the period. :)

6/10. I wouldn't recommended it, but at the same time I feel it is above average with everything considered.