Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Sean Penn | ... | Glendon Wasey | |
Madonna | ... | Gloria Tatlock | |
Paul Freeman | ... | Walter Faraday | |
Richard Griffiths | ... | Willie Tuttle | |
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Philip Sayer | ... | Justin Kronk |
Clyde Kusatsu | ... | Joe Go | |
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Kay Tong Lim | ... | Mei Gan |
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Sonserai Lee | ... | China Doll |
Victor Wong | ... | Ho Chong | |
Professor Toru Tanaka | ... | Yamagani San | |
Michael Aldridge | ... | Mr. Burns | |
Sarah Lam | ... | China Doll's Maid | |
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George She | ... | Wu Ch'En She |
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Won Gam Bor | ... | Rickshaw King |
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To Chee Kan | ... | China Doll's Boatman |
Glendon Wasey is a fortune hunter looking for a fast track out of China. Gloria Tatlock is a missionary nurse seeking the curing powers of opium for her patients. Fate sets them on a hectic, exotic, and even romantic quest for stolen drugs. But they are up against every thug and smuggler in Shangai. Written by Mehmet Karaca <mkaraca@ibm.net>
In 1938 China, a pretty but prim missionary needs to find a hidden stash of smuggled opium (for medicinal purposes!) and attempts to recruit the help of a ratty-looking con-man; his latest get-rich-quick scheme is glow-in-the-dark ties! After an OK opening (without Sean Penn and Madonna), this falls completely apart, weighed down by lethargic attempts at screwball comedy and no chemistry whatsoever between the leads (then a married couple). Based on Tony Kenrick's novel "Faraday's Flowers" (a better title), this failure from George Harrison's HandMade Films must have been a devastating blow to the ex-Beatle, who also executive produced, co-wrote the score and wrote and performed the songs (which are heavy on the camp-Asian allure). Just getting through the picture is a chore, and everything about it seems eternally misjudged. NO STARS from ****