The Shanghai Gesture
1941
Drama
A gambling queen uses blackmail to stop a British financier from closing her Chinese clip joint.
"Mystery-lure of the Far East!"
US | en | United States of America
Arnold Pressburger Films,United Artists
99 min.
Released
Release: 12/25/1941
Josef von SternbergDirector
Victor MatureDoctor Omar
Ona Munson'Mother' Gin Sling
Gene TierneyVictoria Charteris (aka "Poppy Smith")
Walter HustonSir Guy Charteris
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Reviews
CinemaSerf
1/8/2023
"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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