Review of 1941 (1979) by Kenr — 14 May 2023

Shanghai Gesture – Out Of the Fog and Smoke.

What a surprise this turned out to be. Von Sternberg literally paints his images onto the screen with his ever-moving camera, as he glides and weaves through his remarkably maze-like sets. With French born Cinematographer Paul Ivano, we are treated to dazzling images and a screen adaption that belies the stage origins of John Colton’s interesting and rather complex play. Strong dialogue plays a key role in cementing the rhythm and flow of the fascinating sequences as they build to an unexpected finale. Walter Huston is compelling as ever as the powerbroker hiding a mysterious past, with a very young Gene Tierney playing more believably than I’ve ever seen before as the newcomer – taking the fast lane towards a dead end, alongside an equally youthful Victor Mature as an opportunistic casino gigolo. A string of assorted colorful characters are brought to life under Josef Von Sternberg’s skillful direction. As rarely played as it is now, it should be seen by all students & lovers of solid vintage cinema. Some good DVDs available.