Review of The Lady from Shanghai (1947) by Matthew D — 12 Dec 2018

A wildly romantic tale of love and high crime.

Orson Welles directed the dazzling and dreamy thriller The Lady from Shanghai (1947) with innovative style and quirky humor. Welles himself delivers a delightful Irish accent with ease, giving a gripping monologue about sharks to ruminating about the value of independence. His character is his own man and a fascinating take on the roaming hero. The Lady from Shanghai feels like Welles was going for a Casablanca feel or the later on spy thriller North by Northwest even.

Welles takes on beautiful vistas from around the globe to city scenery around San Francisco. Whether Welles is shooting on a little yacht with wide open seas in the background to large beaches and long ports, everything looks interesting. The natural environment is quite pretty as Welles makes each city locale alluring in some exotic way. His spinning camera along a cliff or sea life existing in the background of an aquarium all look intriguing. The finale in a fun house mirror room is as creative directing as I have ever seen. It's like you are witnessing a standoff with shattered glass and highly inventive cuts to and from characters. Welles even does an exhilarating look take as he wanders around the circus area. The Lady from Shanghai looks great!

Speaking of which, Rita Hayworth is as dazzling and charming as you can imagine. She captures the femme fatale allure and sensuality of a leading lady with stunning ease. Her dramatic sadness and loneliness make you sympathetic for her character. Hayworth gives a wonderful performance in The Lady from Shanghai. She even sings a lovely song as the theme to the film.

Similarly, the score to this movie is rather intriguing unto itself. It melds the romantic lazy day sounds of a seaside vacation with thrilling loud symphonic blasts as chases occur and fights break out. It really helps the mysterious vibe in The Lady from Shanghai.

I must mention the excellent acting from the supporting actor Everett Sloane, who plays the wealthy sponsor to Welles' trip about the globe. Sloane plays the sleazy lawyer, negligent husband, scheming criminal, and fragile disabled man with a casual versatility. He drops memorable line after line throughout the film, that he may end up your favorite character by the end.

Overall, the acting is enchanting like the luxurious music and all the settings are as lovely as Miss Hayworth. The Lady from Shanghai offers you a fun hour and a half of mystery, intrigue, romance, and twists. The climax alone is worth the price of admission. I simply adored Orson Welles' accent and direction, while Rita Hayworth is likewise engaging. You should take an afternoon to relax and enjoy the adventure!