Shanghai Express (1932)

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writers:

Harry Hervey (story)
Jules Furthman (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 February 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Many passengers on the Shanghai Express are more concerned that the notorious Shanghai Lil is on board...

Plot Keywords:

China | Chinese | Doctor | Train | Civil War

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Marlene Dietrich	...	Shanghai Lily, aka Magdalen
Clive Brook	...	Captain Donald 'Doc' Harvey
Anna May Wong	...	Hui Fei
Warner Oland	...	Mr. Henry Chang
Eugene Pallette	...	Sam Salt
Lawrence Grant	...	Reverend Mr. Carmichael
Louise Closser Hale	...	Mrs. Haggerty
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Eric Baum
Emile Chautard	...	Major Lenard

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Cantonese | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (PCA #1390-R, 31 August 1935 for re-release)

Filming Locations:

Santa Fe railroad station, San Bernardino, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

China initially banned the movie, demanding its withdrawal from worldwide circulation. The ban was lifted when Paramount pledged not to make another film involving Chinese politics.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film is set in northern China (Peking to Shanghai). The government and warlord soldiers are speaking Cantonese, which is a southern Chinese dialect not generally spoken in northern China. The northern dialects of Mandarin Chinese (a Beijing dialect) and/or Shanghainese would be spoken instead.

Quotes:

Shanghai Lily: When I needed your faith, you withheld it; and now, when I don't need it, and don't deserve it, you give it to me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Marlene (2000)

Great Film Classic !

Always enjoy films from the 1930's and especially this one, which stars Marlene Dietrich,(Shanghai Lily),"Touch of Evil",'58, who looks very young and trim and plays a woman who has been around the block quite a few times. Lily is still in love with a long lost lover and she once again gets involved with him on the "Shanghai Express", along with quite a few other characters on the mysterious train ride. Warner Oland,(Mr. Henry Chang), a great veteran actor who performed in many "Charlie Chan Films in the 1930's, gave a great supporting role along with another veteran actor, Eugene Palette(Sam Salt),"The Cheaters",'45. If you love an excellently produced Classic Film, this is the film for YOU!!