The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

Cast

Rita Hayworth
as Elsa Bannister
Orson Welles
as Michael O'Hara
Errol Flynn
as Man in Background Outside of Cantina
Everett Sloane
as Arthur Bannister

Get more information about The Lady from Shanghai (1947) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Crime Drama Film-Noir Mystery Thriller

7.7 / 10

Michael O'Hara, against his better judgement, hires on as a crew member of Arthur Bannister's yacht, sailing to San Francisco. They pick up Grisby, Bannister's law partner, en route. Bannister has a wife, Rosalie, who seems to like Michael much better than she likes her husband. After they dock in Sausalito, Michael goes along with Grisby's weird plan to fake his (Grisby's) murder so he can disappear untailed. He wants the $5000 Grisby has offered, so he can run off with Rosalie. But Grisby turns up actually murdered, and Michael gets blamed for it. Somebody set him up, but it is not clear who or how. Bannister (the actual murderer?) defends Michael in court.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

Hoccomocco

Ran across uTube video on what was supposed to be Rita Hayworth but was all about Orson and Rita. Unidentified "guru" at beginning call Mr Wells a "con man." Now, what's up with that? - @Wednesday, November 19, 2014 9:07 AM

Jack Grattan

I remember reading 2 separate articles in VIDEO WATCHDOG (complete with production stills) back in the '90's that showcased just what got cut out of both THE STRANGER & SHANGHAI. All kinds of daring crane shots, long takes etc., etc.. I guess that about 20 minutes was gutted from the funhouse/hall of mirrors sequence of this film ALONE. That aside, here are MY reasons for not really liking LFS. 1-The score. Orson's right, it's the worst. 2-The studio. RKO already had a dark, foreboding look to their films before Orson ever arrived there (think HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME or STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR), making it the perfect studio for Orson's baroque sensibilities. When I see a Columbia film, the FIRST thing I think of is "THREE STOOGES". Nothing against the Stooges, of course. 3-The bad guys. Everett Sloane, and ESPECIALLY Glenn Ander's character are just too over the top REPELLENT. That said, even the worse Orson Welles film is LEAGUES better then most anything else out there. Thanks Joe. - @Saturday, September 6, 2014 2:08 AM

Daniel Rosa

Welles firmly stood up for his risky decisions on Citizen Kane and they made it to the final cut. Why didn't that happen with this one?! - @Monday, November 25, 2013 3:43 PM