Mandalay

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Mandalay

Released Feb 10, 1934

1h 5m

Drama

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2 Reviews

43%

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100+ Ratings

Without resources, Tanya (Kay Francis) is caught in the web of the Myanmar underworld. In Rangoon, the gorgeous woman is abandoned by her gunrunner boyfriend, Tony (Ricardo Cortez), to a powerful pimp named Nick (Warner Oland). Tanya refuses to join his brothel, but in time sees that her beauty is her only means of survival. With her ill-gotten gains, Tanya starts a new life in Mandalay and falls in love with surgeon Gregory (Lyle Talbot) -- but her past soon catches up with her.

Helen Brown Norden

Vanity Fair

Kay Francis goes wrong in the Orient and Warner Bros, went wrong on this picture.

Jun 6, 2019

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John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Gauzy curtains and other bits of decor add eye-pleasing depth and complexity to Curtiz's compositions while also suggesting the layers of society and morality that Kay Francis must negotiate to recover her pride.

Rated: 3/4

May 13, 2013

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Steve D

Slow but worth it for the cast and story.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

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j f

Spicy stuff, snuck in just before Hays Code.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

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Audience Member

Damaged, troubled, "wrecked", declassed white people in the colonial/third world. A Russian emigre who becomes a courtesan must choose between the gun-runner who kept and then abandoned or sold her and an alcoholic doctor. Not as good as Gilda, or Casablanca.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

Heavy breathing melodramatics that Kay and her amazing wardrobe make worthwhile.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

Really painful to watch. It's one of these films that has almost nothing going for them: the femme fatale's ugly, the bad guy's a puss and the good one's a drunkard. Well said like that it cool almost be fun but believe me it ain't. The only interesting part is the fact that it is one more film of the Golden Age of Hollywood set in a foreign country under colonial rule. It's just amazing how fascinated the US seem to have been by colonies. That being said if SE Asia interests you, I'd advise you to watch Carol Reed's the Outcast of the Island.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

great movie. You always get a great performance from kay francis

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Michael Curtiz

Director

Kay Francis

Tanya Borisoff, aka Spot White and Marjorie Lang

Ricardo Cortez

Tony Evans

Lyle Talbot

Dr. Gregory Burton

Warner Oland

Nick

Ruth Donnelly

Mrs. Peters

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Synopsis

Without resources, Tanya (Kay Francis) is caught in the web of the Myanmar underworld. In Rangoon, the gorgeous woman is abandoned by her gunrunner boyfriend, Tony (Ricardo Cortez), to a powerful pimp named Nick (Warner Oland). Tanya refuses to join his brothel, but in time sees that her beauty is her only means of survival. With her ill-gotten gains, Tanya starts a new life in Mandalay and falls in love with surgeon Gregory (Lyle Talbot) -- but her past soon catches up with her.

Director: Michael Curtiz
Producer: Robert Presnell Sr.
Screenwriter: Paul Hervey Fox, Austin Parker, Charles Kenyon
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: First National Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 1934, Original
Runtime: 1h 5m