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Shanghai Surprise (1986)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
29 August 1986 (USA)
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Tagline:
A romantic adventure for the dangerous at heart.
Plot:
Glendon Wasey is a fortune hunter looking for a fast track out of China. Gloria Tatlock is a missionary...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
&
5 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Come Join the Party!
(From FilmExperience. 17 August 2009, 5:47 AM, PDT)
Star Wars pair named worst screen couple in new poll
(From BoxWish. 10 February 2009, 3:50 AM, PST)
(From FilmExperience. 17 August 2009, 5:47 AM, PDT)
Star Wars pair named worst screen couple in new poll
(From BoxWish. 10 February 2009, 3:50 AM, PST)
User Comments:
'Swept Away' syndrome first made its appearance 16 years earlier...
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Sean Penn | ... | Glendon Wasey |
 | Madonna | ... | Gloria Tatlock |
 | Paul Freeman | ... | Walter Faraday |
| Richard Griffiths | ... | Willie Tuttle |
| Philip Sayer | ... | Justin Kronk |
 | Clyde Kusatsu | ... | Joe Go |
| Kay Tong Lim | ... | Mei Gan |
| Sonserai Lee | ... | China Doll |
| Victor Wong | ... | Ho Chong |
| Professor Toru Tanaka | ... | Yamagani San |
| Michael Aldridge | ... | Mr. Burns |
| Sarah Lam | ... | China Doll's Maid |
| George She | ... | Wu Ch'En She |
| Won Gam Bor | ... | Rickshaw King |
| To Chee Kan | ... | China Doll's Boatman |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:M |
UK:12 (DVD rating) |
UK:15 (original rating) |
Iceland:12 |
Finland:K-16 |
Spain:T |
Sweden:15 |
USA:PG-13 |
West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The original soundtrack was never officially released. In 2004, all the songs written for the movie appeared in the re-mastered version of George Harrison's album "Cloud Nine".
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Wasey and Miss Tatlock catch up with Faraday in the ship's cabin, the amount of shaving-foam on Faraday's face varies between shots.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ashton Kutcher/50 Cent (#28.18)" (2003)
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Soundtrack:
Shanghai Surprise
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (21 total)
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... "Lets vilify a film out of all proportion just because it's a project of Madonna and her beau"... "Shanghai Surprise" is a better film than "Swept Away", and even (whisper it) 'quite good'...
Yes, you read me right...
Had it been decided to make it without a married couple, this would've been released to little fanfare and been the quaint favourite of a select few. As it was; in 1986 everyone and their dog seemed desperate to put a spanner in the works of the 'Poison Penns' nuptials, and their intended target was starkly visible... If one is actually intelligent enough to assess it sans 'scandal mag' hysteria, it's an innocuous enough concoction. Interesting sets, a quirky character or two, 'screwball' situations... Sean Penn should've been intelligent enough to pass on what's essentially "Raiders of The Lost Ark"'s more 'insipid' step-child; but hey, he was *in love* at the time, so cut 'im some slack... ! 'Love' - the same sickness that prompted most of Madonna's other career mis-steps, as well; (Unless she fell in love with a crew-member, there's NO excuse for "Who's That Girl"... ) and she's out of her depth, here. Sean knows it too, which is why he looks uncomfortable most of the time, but he's still professional enough to wring one or two chuckles from his unscrupulous character - that's as staple in this genre as an 'ill-timed avalanche', BTW - albeit in a manner that still allows the likes of Michael Douglas to sleep safe in his bed.
The awkward pairing we're given though even adds to the fun, although presumably that WASN'T part of the producers' 'grand plan'... Remember how, in 'Temple of Doom', lots of people said the Kate Capshaw character was annoying? Well, so is Madonna here, I guess; it's just this time I don't think it was scripted that way... ! Still, it works effectively enough, as each time Sean gets exasperated with her, so do we the viewers... !
Apparently all that's needed to draw the ire of millions is one main star who's better than the material, and one who's worse... Which is which in the case of "Gigli"... ?! I haven't seen that one yet; but if it gets attacked for the same mean-spirited motives as this, then I'm actually quite looking forward to it... ! When movie stars get hitched, it's been proved that all they're doing is doubling the amount of criticism that gets thrown their way.
EDIT - It must be said, some two months later, that "Gigli" IS almost as bad as reputed... There's still nothing of the like to be wary of here, though... !