The Shanghai Gesture

directed by Josef von Sternburg
Category: "Drama"
Year of Release:1941
Date Added:10/23/2009
Date Watched:10/22/2009
Description:Madam Gin Sling (Ona Munson) owns a gambling/drug/prostitution house in Shanghai (although the censors wouldn't allow the movie to come right out and show anything but the gambling). Victoria "Poppy" Charteris (Gene Tierney) is attracted by the gambling and by Doctor Omar (Victor Mature), who procures girls for the Madam. When the Madam discovers that Poppy is the daughter of Sir Guy Charteris (Walter Huston), her former husband who abandoned her, she draws Poppy into her grasp as revenge. Sir Guy is invited to Madam's on Chinese New Years. Poppy is dragged out, drunk (drugged?), deeply in debt and a mess. Sir Guy reveals that Poppy is also Madam's daughter. When Poppy makes a scene, Madam shoots her.
My Rating:4

Reviews for The Shanghai Gesture

Review - Shanghai Gesture, The

See this movie only if you want to see just how bad a movie can be. The censors forced so much change on the story that there's very little left. Everyone pretty much stands around watching and plotting — there's no actual plot. Gene Tierney, who I generally like, is simply awful, particularly when attempting to portray herself drunk and out of control. She just didn't have it in her to be a tramp. Walter Huston is forced to stand around and look reserved. The hair styles (if they can be called styles) of Madam Gin Sling were amazingly overdone. Just simply bizarre in every way with some of the worst acting I've ever seen, and by some normally good actors.
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