Shanghai Express - 1932



Shanghai Express is to date the oldest movie that I have watched.  The film was directed by Josef von Sternberg and starred Marlene Dietrich as Shanghai Lily/Magdelon, Clive Brook as Captain Donald "Doc" Harvey, Anna May Wong as Hui Fei, Warner Oland as Henry Chang, Eugene Pallette as Sam Salt, Lawrence Grant as Mr. Carmichael, Louise Closser Hale as Mrs. Haggerty, Gustov van Seyfferitz as Eric Baum, and Emile Chautard as Major Lenard.

I have not mentioned it previously, but watching the older movies for me is a huge struggle.  Not because they are bad, but because I hate black & white.  I hate everything about it and I especially dislike when modern film makers do a film in black & white.  Sure, I understand why some do it, Like Schindler's List, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't find the movie as effective if it was in color.  I can understand the art argument to a certain extent, but we are living in the 21st century now, there really is no need for black & white movies anymore.

What I have noticed as I watch many of the older classics is that some have been lovingly and painstakingly restored and others have not.  Perhaps the original quality on some has an effect too as does age.  I just recently watched The Pumpkin Eater, which was black & white and the picture quality was amazing.  Granted the movie was done in '64 so that may have had something to do with it.  This film wasn't all that bad in terms of picture quality, so it made it more watchable than other black and white films.

Shanghai Express is a love story set during the Chinese revolution.  The cast of characters is travelling via train to Shanghai.  Most are more interested in the fact that Shanghai Lily is aboard the train rather than the fact that the revolution may cause a delay or some danger to their trip..

Shanghai Lily is what is known as a "Coaster", technically she is not a prostitute, but she is a woman who lives and survives on her wits.  If sex is required, then she will use it to get what she needs.  As it turns out, Doc Harvey and Shanghai Lily were once in love.  Years ago, well before she became a "Coaster".

The movie really tells the tale of the rekindling of their love while on the train.  Throw in the train being stopped by revolutionaries and lovers needing to save each other and you have the general idea of what happens.  I could go into further detail, but then I would be giving away the action in the movie.

Shanghai Express made it to my list by virtue of two of the three nominations it received.  It is important to note that this movie was nominated during the time when the nominations covered a two year span.  In this case they covered 1931 and 1932.  The two nominations in question were for Directing and Best Picture.

The movie was directed by Josef von Sternberg, an Austrian who got his start working cleaning film prints in Fort Lee, NJ.  He began his career directing silent films.  He is credited with making Marlene Dietrich an international star.  Not only did he work with her on several films but he also had a romantic relationship with her as well.  They collaborated on several films but there last film was a flop which coincidentally began Sternberg's decline as a director.  Shanghai Express was his second and last nomination for Best Director.  The other movies nominated at the time were.

• Frank Borzage - Bad Girl
• King Vidor - The Champ

I really do not know why there are only 3 nominees back then.  I tried to do some research but there really isn't a definitive answer that I could find.  Regardless, Sternberg did not win, the statue went to Frank Borzage for Bad Girl.  I have yet to see either film so I really have nothing to compare.  What I did notice though is that Sternberg was very adept at capturing light and was very good with the dialogue.  I did find the few outdoor scenes to not be as crisp.

The other nomination was for Best Picture, which back then was called Outstanding Production.  There were seven other nomination in that category.  From all the reading I have done regarding the Outstanding Production, this was really more a competition between studios and didn't always have the best movie in mind, but considered the whole ball of wax.  The other nominees were.

• Arrowsmith
• Bad Girl
• The Champ
• Five Star Final
• Grand Hotel
• One Hour With You
• The Smiling Lieutenant

Grand Hotel took home the honor and again, I have yet to see any of the other films.  I can't really discuss if Shanghai Express got screwed in the deal.

It should be noted that it did win an Oscar for cinematography and in that respect, I can't argue that the movie didn't excel.  It was quite good and Sternberg seems to have been considered a master in that respect.  I thought the movie was quite good, despite the poor quality of the film.  I did not find myself waiting for the movie to end, like I have with some during this process.  I would give Shanghai Express 3.5 Stars.