Saturday, November 29, 2014

Shanghai Express

Shanghai Express is a 1932 film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong. It also stars Clive Brook, Warner Oland (best known for playing Charlie Chan in numerous films), and Eugene Pallette (best known for his roles as Friar Tuck in the Errol Flynn Robin Hood movie and Father Felipe in the Tyrone Power Mark of Zorro). It's based on a book which, in turn, is based on the true story of the capture of a train by a Chinese warlord and the holding for ransom of the occupants. The film was nominated for 3 Academy Awards and won for cinematography. This is wonderful! It's held up well and remains enjoyable.

via Daily Motion:



Senses of Cinema says, "It’s a riotous exercise in excess in every area; the visuals are overpowering and sumptuous; the costumes ornate and extravagant; the sets a riot of fabrics, light and space; and all of it captured in the most delectable black-and-white cinematography that one can find anywhere". TCM and MSN have overviews. Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 100%.

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