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An intoxicating mix of adventure, romance, and pre-Code salaciousness, Shanghai Express marks the commercial peak of an iconic collaboration. Marlene Dietrich is at her wicked best as Shanghai Lily, a courtesan whose reputation brings a hint of scandal to a three-day train ride through war-torn China. On board, she is surrounded by a motley crew of foreigners and lowlifes, including a fellow fallen woman (Anna May Wong), an old flame (Clive Brook), and a rebel leader wanted by the authorities (Warner Oland). As tensions come to a boil, director Josef von Sternberg delivers one breathtaking image after another, enveloping his star in a decadent profusion of feathers, furs, and cigarette smoke. The result is a triumph of studio filmmaking and a testament to the mythic power of Hollywood glamour.
Original Release
02/03/1932
US Release
02/03/1932
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Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Marlene Dietrich | Shanghai Lily |
Clive Brook | Captain Donald Harvey / Captain Donald 'Doc' Harvey |
Anna May Wong | Hui Fei |
Warner Oland | Henry Chang / Mr. Henry Chang |
Eugene Pallette | Sam Salt |
Lawrence Grant | Mr. Carmichael / Reverend Mr. Carmichael |
Louise Closser Hale | Mrs. Haggerty |
Gustav von Seyffertitz | Eric Baum |
Emile Chautard | Major Lenard |
George Blagoi | Minor Role |
Directors
Writers
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Marlene Dietrich | Shanghai Lily |
Clive Brook | Captain Donald Harvey / Captain Donald 'Doc' Harvey |
Anna May Wong | Hui Fei |
Warner Oland | Henry Chang / Mr. Henry Chang |
Eugene Pallette | Sam Salt |
Lawrence Grant | Mr. Carmichael / Reverend Mr. Carmichael |
Louise Closser Hale | Mrs. Haggerty |
Gustav von Seyffertitz | Eric Baum |
Emile Chautard | Major Lenard |
George Blagoi | Minor Role |
Leonard Carey | Carey |
George Chung | Chinese Soldier |
Wong Chung | Chinese Officer Checking Passports |
Jack Deery | British Officer at Shanghai |
Herbert Evans | British Railway Officer |
Willie Fung | Train Engineer |
Tom Gubbins | Chinese Officer |
Forrester Harvey | Peiping Ticket Agent |
Claude King | Mr. Albright |
James B. Leong | A Rebel |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Adolph Zukor | Executive Producer |
Editors
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
1932 | Oscar | Best Picture | Nominated |
1932 | Oscar | Best Director | Nominated |
1932 | Oscar | Best Cinematography | Won |