The Shanghai Gesture

1941

1h 39m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

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23 Images

Drama

A gambling queen uses blackmail to stop a British financier from closing her Chinese clip joint.

Directors

Josef von Sternberg

Writers

Josef von Sternberg(adaptation by)

John Colton(theatre play by)

James M. Cain(writer by)

Stars

Victor Mature

Ona Munson

Gene Tierney

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Victor Mature

Doctor Omar

Ona Munson

'Mother' Gin Sling

Gene Tierney

Victoria Charteris (aka "Poppy Smith")

Sir Guy Charteris

Dixie Pomeroy

Van Elst

The Amah

Caesar Hawkins

Boris

The Coolie

Percival Montgomery Howe

Lady Blessington

The Counselor

The Appraiser

The Bartender

The Master of the Spinning Wheel

John Abbott

Poppy's Escort

Directors

Josef von Sternberg

Writers

Josef von Sternberg(adaptation by)

John Colton(theatre play by)

James M. Cain(writer by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

"Sir Guy Charteris" (Walter Huston) is an entrepreneurial British developer who has his eyes on the gin-palace of "Mother Gin Sling" (Ona Munson). The latter woman is running her successful den of iniquity and has no intention of acquiescing to the venal aspirations of her new nemesis. Determined to fight back, she enlists the help of the rather unscrupulous "Dr. Omar" (a rather mis-cast Victor Mature) to ensure that "Poppy" (Gene Tierney) - the daughter of "Charteris" - is introduced to the delightful effects of opium! The story becomes further complicated when it transpires that there is a personal history between the millionaire and the casino owner - and soon a plan is afoot to bring down retribution on his head. This has the look of an older "Charlie Chan" film to it, one without the charisma of Warner Oland or Sydney Toler. The scenarios are all very predictable and there is far too much dialogue as the tale meanders along for an over-long ninety minutes before a rather underwhelming, melodramatic, conclusion. Despite her relatively lowly billing, the films belongs to Munson when she appears, otherwise it's all pretty procedural daytime fayre.

Geronimo196708 Jan, 2023