The Lady from Shanghai
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Movie Reviews of The Lady from Shanghai
Movie Review: Not Welles' best but still very good
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is memorable for a couple of extraordinary scenes as well as Welles working with his wife, Rita Hayworth. Did this guy have a fortunate young life or what!Movie Review: Great Noir
Summary: 4 Stars
This a great example of Film Noir.Welles direction is flawless.
I enjoyed this film very much.
Movie Review: "Everybody is somebody's fool."
Summary: 3 Stars
Orson Welles directed "Lady from Shanghai" and stars as Michael O'Hara, a mysterious down-on-his-luck sailor. As the film opens, O'Hara meets the beautiful Rosalie Bannister (Rita Hayworth) by rescuing her some street thugs; however, little is as it seems, and O'Hara finds himself quickly drawn into Rosalie's life. Turns out that Rosalie is actually married to a powerful lawyer, Arthur Bannister. Soon O'Hara, against his better judgment, is working on the couple's yacht and everything gets more and more complicated.
"Lady from Shanghai" is one of Hayworth's most famous starring roles, and it's easy to see why - she looks amazing and is quite good. However, the film is disappointing. In particular, the plot is unnecessarily convoluted: the focus seems to be on fancy camera work. The close-ups and numerous pans certainly create an atmospheric film. After revolutionizing movie directing six years earlier with "Citizen Kane," Welles was obviously wont to continue his flashy directing here. However, the elements don't mesh well, at the expense of character and plot development. Film noir is always a risky proposition because of the labyrinthine plots, but one cannot rely on atmosphere alone. Also, the film veers toward haminess at times, particularly Welles' thick Irish brogue. The movie is, however, undeniably fascinating. The hall of mirrors sequence is especially fun, although it's been emulated many times since.
The backstory is also typical of a Welles film. Despite being known for her long red hair, Welles had Hayworth cut her get her hair cut short and dyed platinum blonde. The studio understandably had a fit: just one more of Welles' career battles with producers. In this case, however, Welles did not deliver an incontestable classic with the mettle of a "Citizen Kane" or "Magnificent Ambersons." Instead, "The Lady from Shanghai" is an atmospheric but somewhat bizarre film noir that stops well short of greatness; nevertheless the film is a must-see for a number of reasons.
Movie Review: How can anyone be so dumb? Oh yeah. He was trying to impress Rita Hayworth.
Summary: 3 Stars
I am always looking for a good San Francisco story (I watch and review San Francisco detective/noir movies), so was curious about The Lady from Shanghai. Yes, it has beautiful views of post-WWII San Francisco and even better views of Rita Hayworth, but the story itself is unsatisfying, maybe because so much of it ended up on the cutting-room floor but also perhaps because it's hard to understand the how the protagonist, Michael O'Hara, could be such a moron. Rita Hayworth could probably convince most straight men to do crazy things, but to agree to help someone fake his own death? When the alleged purpose of this fakery is so that the dead guy can collect his own life insurance? Shouldn't even the most hormone-distracted guy have seen that there might be more to this story and smelled a rat?
Still, the setup of a shark tank of nefarious characters is excellent. The unfaithful wife, the rich and brilliant but also old and crippled husband, and the resentful but dependent business partner are all beautifully drawn and sharply observed. Secrecy and duplicity are built into the characters, which serves the atmosphere of the film very well. All of this, however, raises expectations for some sort of clever dénouement (a fancy way of saying "tying up the loose ends and providing a satisfactory resolution") that just does not happen. Were this movie being made today, one might suspect that The Lady from Shanghai: The Sequel was being readied for a 2010 Memorial Day weekend release.
Movie Review: A payback movie with a fleeting glimpse of a wrecked marrige
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm such a fan of Pookles that I barely remembered that this is a sliced and diced studio edit that decimates the real tone and objective (or is that subjective?) of the film. I just love listening to him rebel against everything and everyone.The mellowdrama is quite grating in some scenes, but overall, it works as a romantic thriller. The story behind how the movie came to pass is typical Orson. Where most people would write scripts and spend a liftime being rejected, he just makes it as a favour for Sam Goldwyn, who gave him thousands of dollars to get his costumes out of hock in time for the opening of Welles' stage adaptation of 'Around the world in 80 days!'
The scene on the Yaught (which belonged to Erroll Flynn), between Banister(Everett Sloane) and Ohara(Welles) is predictable but obvious Welles Genius.
Banister: Tell me Michael, are you independently wealthy?
Ohara: I'm independent...
B:Of money?
O: I've always found it very sanitary to be broke.
Another great scene is when Banister cross examines himself!
The mirror hall at the end is a very farcical, wellsian caper, and the aquarium is downright spooky.
The story of Welles and Hayworth's rocky marrige is well documented, and there are a few allusions to what was and what should never be. Her hair looks great short and blonde. A real pre cursor to Monroe.