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IMDbPro

Shanghai Surprise

  • 19861986
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
3.2/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
37 Photos
AdventureComedyCrime
Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.
IMDb RATING
3.2/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
    • Jim Goddard
    • John Kohn(screenplay)
    • Robert Bentley(screenplay)
    • Tony Kenrick(from the novel "Faraday's Flowers")
  • Stars
    • Sean Penn
    • Madonna
    • Paul Freeman
    • Jim Goddard
    • John Kohn(screenplay)
    • Robert Bentley(screenplay)
    • Tony Kenrick(from the novel "Faraday's Flowers")
  • Stars
    • Sean Penn
    • Madonna
    • Paul Freeman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 16Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos37

    Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna, Sean Penn, and George Harrison in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    George Harrison in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Sean Penn, Richard Griffiths, and Philip Sayer in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna, Sean Penn, and Paul Freeman in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)
    Madonna and Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sean Penn
    Sean Penn
    • Glendon Wasey
    Madonna
    Madonna
    • Gloria Tatlock
    Paul Freeman
    Paul Freeman
    • Walter Faraday
    Richard Griffiths
    Richard Griffiths
    • Willie Tuttle
    Philip Sayer
    • Justin Kronk
    Clyde Kusatsu
    Clyde Kusatsu
    • Joe Go
    Kay Tong Lim
    • Mei Gan
    Sonserai Lee
    • China Doll
    Victor Wong
    Victor Wong
    • Ho Chong
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    • Yamagani San
    Michael Aldridge
    Michael Aldridge
    • Mr. Burns
    Sarah Lam
    Sarah Lam
    • China Doll's Maid
    George She
    • Wu Ch'En She
    Won Gam Bor
    • Rickshaw King
    To Chee Kan
    • China Doll's Boatman
    David Li
    • Doorman at Zig-Zag Club
    Keith Bonnard
    • Maitre'D at Zig-Zag Club
    Claire Lutter
    • Prostitute
      • Jim Goddard
      • John Kohn(screenplay)
      • Robert Bentley(screenplay)
      • Tony Kenrick(from the novel "Faraday's Flowers")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Apparently, after principal photography wrapped, executive producer George Harrison allegedly said of the movie's two lead stars Madonna and Sean Penn: "Penn is a pain in the arse . . . [while] she has to realize that you can be a fabulous person and be humble as well".
    • Goofs
      During the bathhouse scene Justin tells Glendon that the Chinese use tomato juice to remove the stench of skunks. Of course there are no skunks in China. Skunks live only in North America.
    • Quotes

      Ho Chong: And you, Reverend Lady, would care for protection for treasured parts?

      Gloria Tatlock: No, thank you.

      Ho Chong: Your lips and ears, perhaps?

      Gloria Tatlock: Thank you, I said no.

      Ho Chong: Your twin pagodas, maybe?

      Gloria Tatlock: Definitely not!

      Ho Chong: Surely, you want to protect your haven of celestial bliss?

      Gloria Tatlock: How dare you!

      Glendon Wasey: I don't think the haven's in much danger.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Matinee/Alive/Body of Evidence/Sniper (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Shanghai Surprise
      Music & Lyrics by George Harrison
      Performed by George Harrison with Vicki Brown
      Courtesy of Dark Horse Records & Warner Bros. Records, Inc.

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    Career nadir for both Sean Penn and Madonna
    Penn is miscast and Madonna has a straight, subdued, do-gooder role that's a big conceptual mistake - it saps her of energy and fun. Excruciatingly dull and dreary - even the location shooting in Hong Kong cannot save it. * out of 4.
    helpful•6
    2
    • gridoon2022
    • Apr 16, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 29, 1986 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • Handmade Films Website
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Hong Kong, China
    • Production companies
      • HandMade Films
      • The Vista Organisation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 37 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby

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