The Shanghai Gesture

[Jim]

The Shanghai Gesture. A Joseph Von Sternberg Film Noir from a John Colton Play. The film centers around Mother Gin Sling's casino where everything goes in 1940's Shanghai and "The Casino Never Closes" even though there was a plot to have it closed by a Brittish Businessman for the land.
Ona Munson's hair is heinous like something out of a Flash Gordon movie and somewhat akin to Princess Leigha of Star Wars. She has two flunkey's who assist her with personal and business interests. One is Doctor Omar played by Victor Mature, a fez'ed poet, pimp of sorts, who sponges off women and any sort of graft. Eric Blore has the best lines as a mysogonistic henchman for Mother Gin Sling. He has great lines like "I like women for there beauty and intelligence" said while he's making female contour shapes with his hands. Gene Tierney's acting isn't great, but she didn't have a good dialouge and she looked great. Walter Huston plays as Tierney's father and he involved in the drama of the Casino. Mike Mazurki is a scarey thugh--almost as frightening looking as the Gov'nor in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Warning it's a little racially insensitive for its time.

[Alex DeLarge]

Sounds cool! I ordered the Von Sternberg silent film set from Criterion and can't wait. I'll be adding this one to my list too, thanks Jim!

[Jim]

Your welcome. I think you'll enjoy it.