Although it's a classic, Shanghai Express is one of the reasons why I never liked Marlene Dietrich. It's a very dated story with lots of overacting, a slow pace, and all she does is stand around primping her hair and licking her bottom lip, assuming men will fall at her feet. And then they do. I like her much better in comedies when she's not so conceited and doesn't play an irresistible femme fatale.
This film takes place on the titular train and features Marlene's character "Shanghai Lily" as being a greater danger to the passengers than the Chinese rebels who have taken over and threaten violence. I'm not kidding; a loose woman is more dangerous than men with guns. Clive Brook is on board, as is Anna May Wong playing Marlene's faithful servant. Clive is Marlene's one true love, but they ended on a bad note five years ago and he can't forgive her for taking many men after him. When the Chinese rebels start capturing and torturing people, Marlene finds her unique negotiation skills coming in handy.
That's it; that's the movie. I really can't recommend it, unless you're a huge Josef von Sternberg or Marlene Dietrich fan. This movie features the famous close-up of Marlene as she trembles in an empty train corridor with a key light on her upturned face. It's very famous, but those twenty seconds didn't make me glad I sat through the rest of the eighty minutes.
This film takes place on the titular train and features Marlene's character "Shanghai Lily" as being a greater danger to the passengers than the Chinese rebels who have taken over and threaten violence. I'm not kidding; a loose woman is more dangerous than men with guns. Clive Brook is on board, as is Anna May Wong playing Marlene's faithful servant. Clive is Marlene's one true love, but they ended on a bad note five years ago and he can't forgive her for taking many men after him. When the Chinese rebels start capturing and torturing people, Marlene finds her unique negotiation skills coming in handy.
That's it; that's the movie. I really can't recommend it, unless you're a huge Josef von Sternberg or Marlene Dietrich fan. This movie features the famous close-up of Marlene as she trembles in an empty train corridor with a key light on her upturned face. It's very famous, but those twenty seconds didn't make me glad I sat through the rest of the eighty minutes.