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      The Shanghai Gesture

      Released Dec 26, 1941 1 hr. 46 min. Drama List
      83% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 71% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score Gambling-den boss Mother Gin Sling (Ona Munson) drags her British ex-lover's (Walter Huston) daughter (Gene Tierney) into decadence. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Steve D Not as good as it should be with this cast. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/24 Full Review Ken R Shanghai Gesture – Out Of the Fog and Smoke What a surprise this turned out to be. Von Sternberg literally paints his images onto the screen with his ever-moving camera, as he glides and weaves through his remarkably maze-like sets. With French born Cinematographer Paul Ivano, we are treated to dazzling images and a screen adaption that belies the stage origins of John Colton's interesting and rather complex play. Strong dialogue plays a key role in cementing the rhythm and flow of the fascinating sequences as they build to an unexpected finale. Walter Huston is compelling as ever as the powerbroker hiding a mysterious past, with a very young Gene Tierney playing more believably than I've ever seen before as the newcomer – taking the fast lane towards a dead end, alongside an equally youthful Victor Mature as an opportunistic casino gigolo. A string of assorted colorful characters are brought to life under Josef Von Sternberg's skillful direction. As rarely played as it is now, it should be seen by all students & lovers of solid vintage cinema. Some good DVDs available. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Poorly directed, poorly acted and poorly scripted. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Tom M Great noire that starts slow but pays off in the end. Tierney, in an early role, is brilliant going from savvy socialite to drunken whore (and she's stunning all the while). Munson steals the show in most of her scenes. Mature is the one who keeps this from being a classic. He wears a ridiculous fez and cape for most of the movie, leers at women and has a puzzled look on his face ("why am I wearing this fez and cape ?). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/20/20 Full Review Audience Member A study in whitewashing and '40s schmaltz. It's so mundane that it starts with a suicide attempt, ends with murder, heavily features a love triangle and 'culminates' with a family-drama-reveal one-two but still packs zero punch. There's no tension, no nerve - only a meagre plot where even the protagonists are extras. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member a fair to good drama noir movie from 1941 starring Gene Tierney,Walter Huston,Victor Mature and a good cast. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (6) Critics Reviews
      Ian Coster London Evening Standard Josef Von Sternberg directed this poor tale with laborious and ineffectual care. May 26, 2021 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Jul 23, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A delirious masterpiece of decadence and sexual depravity. Rated: A Feb 18, 2005 Full Review Thomas Delapa Boulder Weekly Rated: 3/5 Aug 25, 2004 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Compromised Sternberg, but visually and thematically compelling. Rated: 4/5 Jan 9, 2003 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Sternberg was gifted at capturing the feel of an exotic city from a regular sound stage, and he doesn't slouch here. Rated: 3/4 Feb 13, 2001 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Gambling-den boss Mother Gin Sling (Ona Munson) drags her British ex-lover's (Walter Huston) daughter (Gene Tierney) into decadence.
      Director
      Josef von Sternberg
      Screenwriter
      John Colton, Jules Furthman, Geza Herczeg, Josef von Sternberg
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      Arnold Pressburger Films
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 26, 1941, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 13, 2018