3.1/10
4,465
30 user 22 critic

Shanghai Surprise (1986)

PG-13 | | Adventure, Crime, Drama | 29 August 1986 (USA)
Shanghai Surprise Poster
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... See full summary »

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
Reviews

Watch Now

With Prime Video

ON DISC
1 win & 6 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

See all 19 photos »
Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 













◄ Prev 6 Next 6 ►

Next »
Who's That Girl (1987)
Comedy | Music | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 4.7/10 X  

The life of an uptight tax lawyer turns chaotic when he is asked to escort a young woman newly released from prison, who persuades him to help prove her innocence.

Director: James Foley
Stars: Madonna, Griffin Dunne, Haviland Morris
Next »
The Next Best Thing (2000)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 4.7/10 X  

Abbie, tired of failed relationships, has a one-night-stand with her gay friend; they agree to raise the resulting baby together.

Director: John Schlesinger
Stars: Madonna, Rupert Everett, Benjamin Bratt
Next »
Dangerous Game (1993)
Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.7/10 X  

A New York City film director, working on his latest movie in Los Angeles, begins to reflect the actions in his movie and real-life, especially when he begins an affair with the lead actress.

Director: Abel Ferrara
Stars: Harvey Keitel, Madonna, James Russo
Next »
Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
Documentary | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.2/10 X  

Documentary following singer Madonna on her controversial Blond Ambition tour in 1990.

Director: Alek Keshishian
Stars: Madonna, Donna DeLory, Niki Harris
Next »
Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.6/10 X  

This musical is based on four short stories by Damon Runyon. In one tale, gambler Feet Samuels sells his body to science just as he realizes that Hortense loves him and that he would rather... See full summary »

Director: Howard Brookner
Stars: Josef Sommer, Madonna, Tony Azito
Next »
Body of Evidence (1993)
Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 4.4/10 X  

A lawyer defends a woman accused of killing her older lover by having sex with him.

Director: Uli Edel
Stars: Madonna, Willem Dafoe, Joe Mantegna
Next »
I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2005)
Documentary | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

Chronicles Madonna's 2004 Re-Invention World Tour and "new" Madonna

Directors: Jonas Åkerlund, Dago Gonzales
Stars: Madonna, Stuart Price, Steve Sidelnyk
Next »
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.9/10 X  

A bored suburban housewife, seeking escape from her life, suffers amnesia after an accident, wakes up, and is mistaken for a free-spirited New York City drifter named Susan.

Director: Susan Seidelman
Stars: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn
Next »
Madonna: The MDNA Tour (TV Movie 2013)
Documentary | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.2/10 X  

Madonna returns to stadiums and arenas for her ninth tour, and the highest grossing tour of 2012! EPIX is proud to exclusively broadcast this thrilling, dazzling, cutting edge and controversial concert. In HD.

Directors: Mark Ritchie, Stéphane Sennour, and 2 more credits »
Stars: Madonna, Kevin Antunes, Monte Pittman
Next »
Swept Away (2002)
Comedy | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3.6/10 X  

A snooty socialite is stranded on a Mediterranean island with a communist sailor.

Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Madonna, Adriano Giannini, Bruce Greenwood
Next »
Madonna: The Girlie Show - Live Down Under (TV Movie 1993)
Documentary | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.5/10 X  

Madonna and her crew perform in Australia for The Girlie Show Tour in 1993 in support of the legendary Erotica album. She wouldn't perform there for another 23 years due to scheduling.

Director: Mark Aldo Miceli
Stars: Madonna, Jai Winding, Michael Bearden
Next »
Evita (1996)
Biography | Drama | History
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.3/10 X  

The hit musical based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.

Director: Alan Parker
Stars: Madonna, Jonathan Pryce, Antonio Banderas
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Glendon Wasey
... Gloria Tatlock
... Walter Faraday
... Willie Tuttle
Philip Sayer ... Justin Kronk
... Joe Go
Kay Tong Lim ... Mei Gan
Sonserai Lee ... China Doll
... Ho Chong
... Yamagani San
... Mr. Burns
... China Doll's Maid
George She ... Wu Ch'En She
Won Gam Bor ... Rickshaw King
To Chee Kan ... China Doll's Boatman
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

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>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

china | year 1937 | american | crying | missionary | See All (54) »

Taglines:

A romantic adventure for the dangerous at heart.

Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Romance

Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

Handmade Films Website

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

29 August 1986 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Aventuras en Shanghai  »

Filming Locations:

 »
Edit

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$719,885, 1 September 1986, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,315,683
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Star Billing: Sean Penn (1s) and Madonna (2nd). See more »

Goofs

In the harbor scene when Gloria meets Glendon most ships at the back have flags of communist China that did not even exist at that time (1938). See more »

Quotes

[first title card]
Title Card: Shanghai 1937
Title Card: The Year of the Japanese Occupation
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Rashida Jones/Khloé Kardashian/Rachel Bloom/Glenn Kotche (2016) See more »

Soundtracks

Breath away from heaven
Music & Lyrics by George Harrison
Performed by George Harrison
Courtesy of Dark Horse Records & Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
It's actually much worse than you've heard--and that's the only surprise
23 April 2007 | by – See all my reviews

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 ****
28 of 33 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 30 user reviews »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page

Stream Action and Adventure Titles With Prime Video

Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.

Start your free trial