East of Shanghai (1931)

Believing that an unexpected inheritance will bring them happiness, a married couple instead finds their relationship strained to the breaking point.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Dale Collins (novel), Alfred Hitchcock (adaptation)

Stars:

Henry Kendall, Joan Barry, Percy Marmont

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Henry Kendall	...	Fred Hill
Joan Barry	...	Emily Hill
Percy Marmont	...	Commander Gordon
Betty Amann	...	The Princess
Elsie Randolph	...	The Old Maid

Storyline

Fred and Emily Hill are leading a boring life in London. They receive a big inheritance by a rich relative and now they can realize all their dreams. They leave for a cruise behaving as rich people....but this is the beginning of the end. Richness makes they soon forget their love and family.

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | cruise ship | deception | false identity | fraud | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 1932 (UK)

Also Known As:

East of Shanghai

Filming Locations:

Dover, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British International Pictures (BIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie is most notable for the techniques used by Sir Alfred Hitchcock that appeared in his later movies. Most notable are the sets, including a re-creation of a full-sized ship in a water tank, used in the final act. Hitchcock also experimented with camera techniques and shot compositions.

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Goofs

When the Princess and Fred are getting up from the lounge chairs on the boat deck, the Princess's scarf is stuck to the sequins on her dress while sitting down but in the next shot when they are standing, the scarf is hanging loose by her side.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Fred Hill: Hello Em.
Emily Hill: Hello Fred. I think you'll like me in this dress when it's done. Oh, have you broken your umbrella?

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 2000 when the film was granted a 'U' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Referenced in My Weekly Bond: Hitchcock Reviews: Rich and Strange (2013)

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Soundtracks

'Tis I, Myself
(uncredited)
based on "The Londonderry Air"
Traditional
Arranged by Jack Gill and Eddie Gross-Bart
Lyrics by Max Gartman

User Reviews

Quite Interesting

This change-of-pace from Hitchcock is quite an interesting film, often pleasantly witty and at other times a bit unsettling in its observations on human nature. It won't appeal to those looking for Hitchcock-style suspense (although there is one such sequence), but it is worth watching for some other reasons.

The story is about Fred and Emily Hill, an average couple living a routine middle class life. The opening sequence, which is very nicely done using many of Hitchcock's silent film skills, immediately makes you feel the boredom and shallowness of Fred's world, while being amusing as well. Suddenly Fred receives word that a rich relative is giving him a large sum of money so that he can see the world, and the Hills are off on an extended trip to several foreign countries. The substance of the movie is in the ways that their new-found wealth and the many unfamiliar environments affect them and their marriage. Their new world is one of a couple of possible meanings of the title "Rich and Strange", in addition to the Shakespeare allusion.

The cast is very small, and consists of actors little known today, but they are generally good and make their characters believable. As the Hills encounter hazards, temptations, and adventure, the question is whether they have really changed or learned anything from their experiences - the amusing last scene gives one possible answer, and along the way there are a lot of other subtle points.

While not at all like Hitchcock's more famous films, in a different sense it is all Hitchcock - a distinctive movie, and carefully crafted. While only a minor effort among his many masterpieces, it is still worth a look for those who enjoy older comedies.