Shanghai Express – 1931 / 1932
This was a film which I instinctively knew I was going to enjoy and I was not wrong. It had everything a good film from the early 30s is supposed to have. It had a beautiful woman, a strong and handsome leading man, a cast of unique characters, murder, danger, intrigue, wit, drama, and a moral center. What’s not to love?
It starred Marlena Dietrich as Magdalen, though her stage name is Shanghai Lily, a professional courtesan with hidden depths and a flawless face. Playing opposite her was Clive Brook, playing Captain Donald “Doc” Harvey, our handsome hero with a chip on his shoulder. The two share a secret past in which they were both to blame in a bad break-up. And what was the main reason for their split? What was always the reason for break-ups in the 1930s and 40s? An unrealistic lack of communication.
It seems that a couple in love would rather split than express their true feelings. She should know I love her, even though I can never bring myself to say it. If he can’t tell what I am feeling, then I’m certainly not going to let him know. It defies logic. But I see it so often in movies and TV that I have to wonder if people actually think like this.
Of course, this leaves the couple apart from each other, but still in love, which is a good thing for Doc and Shanghai Lilly. It is their love for each other which sees them both through the conflict of the film. That conflict comes in the form of a Chinese revolution.
They, along with a colorful cast of stereotypes, board a train called the Shanghai Express. Eugene Pallette played Sam Salt, a man who is obsessed with gambling, and whose every single line was about betting. Gustav von Seyffertitz, a hypochondriac whose every single line was about being sick. Louise Closser Hale played Mrs. Haggerty, a stuffy British woman, whose every single line was about being an uptight prude. And lastly, Emile Chautard as Major Lenard, whose every line was in French. Not one of these four characters had any significant contributions to the plot.
But before they reach their destination, they are stopped by the Chinese police so they can arrest a high ranking officer in the revolutionary army. If only the police had known that Henry Chang, the Commander in Chief of the revolution, played by Warner Oland, was also a passenger on the train, a lot of trouble could have been avoided. He makes arrangements for the train to be hijacked, at which time, his true identity is revealed. To get back his officer, Chang holds the Captain Harvey for ransom. Chang played a one-dimensional but competent villain.
The prisoner exchange is arranged, but Doc, in order to save Lily’s honor, punches Chang, humbling him. Chang decides to have the hero’s eyes burned out. But Shanghai Lily, in order to save her lover from this horrible fate, offers herself in exchange for his safety. Doc is confused by his sudden release and by Lily’s unexplained desire to stay with the evil Chang. But it is another train passenger, Lawrence Grant, playing the part of Reverend Carmichael, the man who sees sin everywhere, who is ultimately responsible for Lily and Doc’s reconciliation.
Strangely enough, it is the Shanghai Express’s final passenger, Hui Fei, played by Anna May Wong, who has apparently been raped by Chang, who saves everyone. In a fit of revenge, Hui murders Chang and everyone safely escapes on the train before anyone knows what happened. But even then, the two lovers cannot talk to each other, cannot explain the reasons for their actions, leaving Doc with the unfounded belief that Lily had been leaving him for Chang because she did not love him.
The two did a good job with the somewhat far-fetched script, and they were actually fun to watch. And I must admit that I was surprised with Marlena Dietrich. For some reason, I always just think of her as a pretty face without too much depth as an actress, but happily, I am always proven wrong. She created a memorable character and did it with finesse and skill.