Shadows Over Shanghai
Shadows Over Shanghai

Movie spotlight

Shadows Over Shanghai

1938
Movie
66 min
English

A pilot carrying a valuable amulet is shot down over China by a ruthless Russian agent, who also wants the amulet.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Director: Frank LloydGenres: Drama, War, Romance

Plot Summary

During the Sino-Japanese War, an American engineer working in Shanghai finds himself caught between his developing feelings for a Eurasian singer and the escalating conflict around him. As the city faces bombardment, he must make difficult choices about his loyalties and his future. The film explores themes of love, survival, and the human cost of war in a turbulent era.

Critical Reception

While not a major critical darling at the time of its release, "Shadows Over Shanghai" was generally seen as a competent and engaging melodrama that effectively captured the tension of its historical setting. Critics often praised its atmospheric depiction of wartime Shanghai and the performances of its lead actors, though some found the plot to be somewhat conventional.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric portrayal of Shanghai during wartime.

  • The performances, particularly from the lead actors, were generally well-received.

  • Some found the romantic subplot and overall narrative to be predictable.

Google audience: Audience reviews are not readily available for this historical film. However, based on its genre and era, it likely appealed to those interested in wartime dramas and romantic entanglements.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film was notable for its attempt to portray the complexities of international relations and the impact of conflict on civilians, a theme that was becoming increasingly relevant in Hollywood productions of the late 1930s.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Somehow I kept expecting Christopher Lee (who would have been but 16 years old) to appear in this rather enjoyable Oriental mystery that sees just about everyone from the Russian and Chinese Secret services on the trail of a priceless amule...