Review of The Lady from Shanghai (1947) by Daniel D — 25 Nov 2012

Much like "The Third Man" and "The Maltese Falcon," "The Lady from Shanghai" is one of the few so-called film noirs that actually feels like a film noir. This is because of Welles' exceptional usage of bizarre camerawork, elaborate plot twists, cynical characters and hard-nosed dialogue, as well as his dark depiction of urbanity.

Of course, since age has taken its toll on some aspects, Welles' direction can seem uneven at times and his comedic treatment of the whole courtroom scene is ill-advised and feels awfully out of place.

But "The Lady from Shanghai" is a true film noir and lovers of the genre will find themselves relishing every minute of it.