The Shanghai Gesture (1941)
Reference View | Change View
- Approved
- 1h 35min
- Crime, Drama
- 15 Jan 1942 (USA)
- Movie
In Shanghai, dragon lady 'Mother' Gin Sling operates a gambling house for wealthy patrons but she clashes with influential land developer Sir Guy Charteris who wants to put her out of business.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gene Tierney | ... |
Poppy
|
|
| Walter Huston | ... |
Sir Guy Charteris
|
|
| Victor Mature | ... |
Doctor Omar
|
|
| Ona Munson | ... |
'Mother' Gin Sling
|
|
| Phyllis Brooks | ... |
The Chorus Girl
|
|
| Albert Bassermann | ... |
The Commissioner
|
|
| Maria Ouspenskaya | ... |
The Amah
|
|
| Eric Blore | ... |
The Bookkeeper
|
|
| Ivan Lebedeff | ... |
The Gambler
|
|
| Mike Mazurki | ... |
The Coolie
|
|
| Clyde Fillmore | ... |
The Comprador
|
|
| Grayce Hampton | ... |
The Social Leader
|
|
| Rex Evans | ... |
The Counselor
|
|
| Mikhail Rasumny | ... |
The Appraiser
(as Mikhail Rasumni)
|
|
| Michael Dalmatoff | ... |
The Bartender
(as Michael Delmatoff)
|
|
| Marcel Dalio | ... |
The Master of the Spinning Wheel
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| John Abbott | ... |
Poppy's Escort (uncredited)
|
|
 |
Enrique Acosta | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
| Mimi Aguglia | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| William Begg | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| Brooks Benedict | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Paul Bradley | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
| Jean De Briac | ... |
De Micheaux (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Jack Deery | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
| Steven Geray | ... |
Man in Casino Helping Boris (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Roland Got | ... |
Kim Chee (uncredited)
|
| Sam Harris | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| Leyland Hodgson | ... |
Ryerson (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Allen Marlow | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
| Eric Mayne | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| Moy Ming | ... |
Elderly Chinese Man (uncredited)
|
|
| Edmund Mortimer | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
| Manuel París | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Albert Pollet | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
|
Emil Rameau | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
|
|
Count Stefenelli | ... |
Casino Patron (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Josef von Sternberg | ||
Written by
| Josef von Sternberg | ... | (adaptation) |
| Geza Herczeg | ... | (collaborator for adaptation) and |
| Jules Furthman | ... | (collaborator for adaptation) |
| John Colton | ... | (play) |
| James M. Cain | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Karl Vollmöller | ... | (collaborator for adaptation) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Theo. W. Baumfeld | ... | assistant producer |
| Albert de Courville | ... | associate producer |
| Arnold Pressburger | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Richard Hageman | ||
Cinematography by
| Paul Ivano | ... | (photography) |
Editing by
| Sam Winston | ||
Art Direction by
| Boris Leven | ||
Makeup Department
| Hazel Rogers | ... | wigs for Miss Munson |
| Robert Stephanoff | ... | makeup artist (as Bob Stephanoff) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles Kerr | ... | assistant director |
| Fred Pressburger | ... | assistant director |
| John London | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Howard Bristol | ... | interior decorator (uncredited) |
| Keye Luke | ... | painter: murals (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jack Noyes | ... | sound (as C. A. Noyes) |
Special Effects by
| Harry Redmond Jr. | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Ned Scott | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Oleg Cassini | ... | costume designer: Gene Tierney |
| Royer | ... | costumes: Miss Munson |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Richard Hageman | ... | conductor |
Additional Crew
| Tom Gubbins | ... | technical advisor |
| Aline Sholes | ... | technical advisor |
| Robert Blair | ... | stand-in: Victor Mature (uncredited) |
| Keye Luke | ... | mural: Mother Gin Sling's apartment (uncredited) |
| Arnold Pressburger | ... | presenter (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1941) (United States) (theatrical) (released through)
- United Artists (1941) (Canada) (theatrical) (as United Artists Corporation, Ltd.)
- United Artists (1942) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as United Artists Corporation, Ltd.)
- United Artists (Australasia) (1941) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Artistas Unidos (1941) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Los Artistas Unidos de América del Sur (1941) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1943) (Sweden) (theatrical) (as United Artists A/B)
- Film Rights (1946) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Regent Film (1946) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kleber Film (1947) (France) (theatrical)
- Unity Television (1947) (United States) (tv) (as Unity Television Corp.)
- Kungsfilm (1948) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Antenne 2 (A2) (1975) (France) (tv)
- Films Around the World (I) (1981) (United States) (tv) (presents) (restored version)
- Monde Interactive, Le (2005) (France) (DVD) (as Collection Le Cinéma du Monde)
- Films sans Frontières (2005) (France) (DVD)
- Schröder Media (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Hypercube (restoration) (1981)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A young woman, Poppy, out for excitement in Shanghai, enters a gambling house owned by "Mother" Gin Sling, a dragon-lady who worked herself up from poverty to buy the casino. Sir Guy Charteris, wealthy entrepreneur, has purchased a large area of Shanghai, forcing Gin Sling to vacate by the coming Chinese New Year. Under orders from Gin Sling, who has found out Poppy is Charteris' daughter, the smarmy Doctor Omar leads Poppy deeper and deeper into an addiction to gambling and alcohol. Gin Sling, realizing that Charteris was her long-ago husband who she thinks abandoned her, plans her revenge by inviting Charteris to a Chinese New Year dinner party to expose his past indiscretions. Charteris, however, has a surprise of his own to spring on Gin Sling.
Written by Doug Sederberg |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | "POPPY"...the Victim of Vengeance! Her love of life and laughter led her to a most amazing doom! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $1,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The last Hollywood film that Josef von Sternberg saw through to completion--he was fired from Macao (1952) and Jet Pilot (1957). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Society of the Spectacle (1974). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I'm Always Chasing Rainbows See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits: "Years ago a speck was torn away from the mystery of China and became Shanghai. A distorted mirror of problems that beset the world today, it grew into a refuge for people who wished to live between the lines of laws and customs - - a modern Tower of Babel. Neither Chinese, European, British nor American it maintained itself for years in the ever increasing whirlpool of war. Its destiny, at present, is in the lap of the Gods - - as is the destiny of all cities. Our story has nothing to do with the present." See more » |
| Quotes |
'Mother' Gin Sling:
[of an ordinance that would outlaw her establishment]
I've lived by my own ordinances for a long time now, and I intend to disregard all others. See more » |