Shanghai Express

directed by Josef von Sternberg
Category: "Drama"
Year of Release:1932
Date Added:09/15/2024
Date Watched:09/15/2024
Description:The Shanghai Express train makes its way through civil war-torn China. Among it's passengers are Captain Harvey (Clive Brook) and Shanghai Lily (Marlene Dietrich). Several years before, they were in love, but Harvey dumped her because he didn't trust her. Despondent, Lily became a high-priced courtesan. When they meet on the train, all of Lily's feelings for Harvey are rekindled. The train is stopped, and the Chinese troops remove a rebel leader. Further on, the train is stopped again, and one of the passengers, Chang, reveals himself to be the head of the rebels. He forces the other passengers to meet with him, looking for a hostage to use to exchange for the man taken off the train. He settles on Harvey, who is not only an English officer, but is on his way to perform an operation on an important person. Chang also propositions Lily. when Harvey overhears, he bursts into the room and knocks Chang down. In return, Chang determines to burn Harvey's eyes before her exchanges him. Meanwhile, since Lily turned him down, Chang rapes Hui Fei, another woman on the train. When Lily finds out what Chang intends to do to Harvey, she offers to go with him. Harvey is released and, not realizing that she is acting on his behalf, is offended that Lily intends to go with Chang. But then Hui Fei sneaks back and kills Chang. The train takes off, but Harvey, thinking Lily was going with Chang, wants nothing to do with her. A minister on board, who had been offended by Lily at the beginning of the trip, speaks up for her because he saw her praying for Harvey. Harvey reconsiders and realizes he can't do without Lily. When the train gets to Shanghai, they get back together.
My Rating:6

Reviews for Shanghai Express

Review - Shanghai Express

A good story, and some of the scenes with Dietrich are appropriately famous for the way light and clothing are used to make her glamorous and heroic. But at other times, she overacts, being mysterious and flighty when there is no reason to. And Brook, as the great romantic lead, has the charisma of a brick. At no point does he appear to have any emotions. Stock Englishman or whatever, the guy has no personality.

Reviewed by Roger on 2024-09-15 14:29:44

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