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The Lady From Shanghai

Play trailer Poster for The Lady From Shanghai Released Jun 9, 1948 1h 27m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A seaman becomes involved in a complex murder plot when he is hired to work on a yacht. He soon finds himself implicated in the murder, despite his innocence. The film is best remembered for it's climax "hall of mirrors" scene with a shoot out amidst shards of shattering glass.
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The Lady From Shanghai

The Lady From Shanghai

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Critics Consensus

Energetic and inventive, The Lady from Shanghai overcomes its script deficiencies with some of Orson Welles' brilliantly conceived set pieces.

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Critics Reviews

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Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) The film is as tangled and ingenious as any of Welles's conjuring tricks. The shoot-out in the hall of mirrors is the most famous sequence, but there are other moments just as memorable. Rated: 5/5 Jul 24, 2014 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian It has an irresistible energy. Rated: 5/5 Jul 24, 2014 Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine The plot's pleasingly convoluted, the performances amusingly varied, the mood sinisterly sustained. But the set-pieces are the work of a genius. Rated: 4/5 Jul 24, 2014 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies The Lady from Shanghai isn’t a typical film noir; it’s weirder and more bizarre than most, even with all the murders, plot twists, and remarkable camerawork. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 25, 2025 Full Review Calum Baker Radio Times The climactic hall-of-mirrors scene is the film's most famous, but Welles - still all of 32 at the time - contrives a mesmeric atmosphere throughout that makes this among the most striking examples of American film noir. Rated: 4/5 May 2, 2025 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand It’s a strange portrait in a career of corrupt figures, shady charlatans, and tragic fools, yet this unlikely Welles project is a wonderfully Wellesian film, a nightmare world of labyrinthine danger culminating in a dazzling hall of mirrors. Sep 22, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M Orson Welles has a sharp voice to upend his woodenly executed screenplay and grow confidence in direction as it cleverly unfolds to slowly establish engagement upon the clarifying climax whereas the entertainment value truly lies when culminating in full circle. (B) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Jason C Some cool camera angles. Turned into a courthouse drama in the middle. But Rita Hayworth you could imagine getting in too deep for. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/17/24 Full Review David W The plot is as complex as any great Noir should be. Wells creates cinematic scene after scene of daring visuals way ahead of their time in 1948, and still unique and stunning today. Hayworth gives a femme fatale grace to match the noirish acting of a stellar cast. The scene in Steinhart Aquarium and the shootout in hall of mirrors are still unequaled in film history! New remastered 4k is fabulous! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Georgan G The complex plot grabs my attention, and the acting is terrific. Got tired of Welles' "accent," but he & Rita have chemistry that counts. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review helder f It’s a bit outdated, but greatly innovative for its time. The story only picks up in its last half, or 30 minutes or so. We are in sort of haze until then. The back fort among the characters and their conflict are barely explained. I guess we are to be wondering why they recruit Michael, this man who rescues Elsa at the park, to work for her and her husband. We keep the suspicion that something is in the making and he is about to get hurt. I don’t think this wonder or suspense if you will is enticing enough... Once the story finally gets somewhere, the movie picks up and it becomes more interesting. Yet a bit chopped. In any case, it has beautiful pieces of dialogue. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/18/24 Full Review Todd M Orson Welles' worst movie. Entirely bad. Plot is stupid, acting is dull, Welles' "Irish" accent is insufferable, and the "twists" are so forced and cringey it makes Basic (2003) look like Citizen Kane. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Lady From Shanghai

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Cast & Crew

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Orson Welles

Director

Rita Hayworth

Elsa "Rosalie" Bannister

Orson Welles

Michael O'Hara

Everett Sloane

Arthur Bannister

Glenn Anders

George Grisby

Ted de Corsia

Sidney Broome

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The Lady From Shanghai

The Lady From Shanghai (1948) The Lady From Shanghai (1948) The Lady From Shanghai (1948) The Lady From Shanghai (1948) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A seaman becomes involved in a complex murder plot when he is hired to work on a yacht. He soon finds himself implicated in the murder, despite his innocence. The film is best remembered for it's climax "hall of mirrors" scene with a shoot out amidst shards of shattering glass.
Director
Orson Welles
Producer
Orson Welles
Screenwriter
Orson Welles
Production Co
Columbia Pictures
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 9, 1948, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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