The Shanghai Gesture

The Shanghai Gesture

25/12/1941 1h 39m 6.3/10

Overview

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

Director

Josef von Sternberg

Top Billed Cast

Victor Mature

Victor Mature

Doctor Omar

Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney

Victoria Charteris (aka "Poppy Smith")

Ona Munson

Ona Munson

'Mother' Gin Sling

Walter Huston

Walter Huston

Sir Guy Charteris

Albert Bassermann

Albert Bassermann

Van Elst

Phyllis Brooks

Phyllis Brooks

Dixie Pomeroy

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

1/8/2023

6/10

"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.

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