Shanghai Express (1932)
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Shanghai Express Movie Review
Shanghai Express is a 1932 Pre-Code drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong. It’s a flawed, but moody, fun flick.
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“It took more than one man to change my name to Shanghai Lily“
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As is the case with almost all Josef von Sternberg movies, this one also has a problematic story. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly the worst aspect when it comes to this picture. Yes, it has its interesting plot points, the romance is pretty good and the movie is entertaining, but those political overtones in China did not really work. They weighed the film down with unnecessary political unrest whereas the romantic/more personal stories were much more effective.
Marlene Dietrich shines per usual. This is one of her greatest vehicles with the director, only bettered by ‘Blonde Venus’. She is so sensual here, so magnetic that she simply lights up the screen with her luminous presence. But Anna May Wong is also very intriguing and memorable. The movie is surprisingly modern in its sex and race relations being rather feminist and giving us a solid Asian cast. As for the rest of the cast, Louise Closser Hale as Mrs. Haggerty is quite amusing, but others are forgettable including rather bland Clive Brook.
Shanghai Express is a very moody movie as I said above. Technically speaking, it’s amazing and simply irresistible. The sound effects of the engine are strong, the dialogue is mostly playful and fun and the direction from Josef von Sternberg is reliably strong. This is certainly one of his most memorable films.
But I did find the script troublesome and the characterization flawed. The acting is strong across the board, but the characters needed more work. But the runtime is quite short so I guess they did not have enough time. And thankfully the film is short as thus it became very entertaining to watch.
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Its by far strongest aspect is the cinematography. Wow, does this movie look great. The train looks phenomenal and is so well utilized as a location, but the overall black-and-white aesthetic is gorgeous, very intriguing and mysterious. The film is a great mixture of darkness, sensuality and intrigue with some shots at Dietrich being glamorous and downright iconic. It’s thus an unforgettable movie that did deserve its Best Cinematography Oscar win, even if the other two nominations are not really earned.
Shanghai Express is per usual for a Josef von Sternberg picture lacking plotwise as the story is uneven and particularly uninteresting in its politics. But Anna May Wong is quite memorable in her role and Marlene Dietrich simply lights up the screen with her luminous presence. The movie is flawed and simplistic, but certainly a very moody cinematic experience fueled by such stellar, deservedly Oscar-winning camera work.
