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The Lady From Shanghai

Play trailer Poster for The Lady From Shanghai 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) 07/24/2014
5/5
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. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 07/24/2014
5/5
It has an irresistible energy. Go to Full Review
David Parkinson Empire Magazine 07/24/2014
4/5
The plot's pleasingly convoluted, the performances amusingly varied, the mood sinisterly sustained. But the set-pieces are the work of a genius. Go to Full Review
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Aug 25
3.5/5
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. Go to Full Review
Calum Baker Radio Times May 2
4/5
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. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 09/22/2024
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Leaburn O Nov 23 There’s so much I enjoyed in this noir but so much I was confused by. The plot is thick with big characters and an interesting premise but in the end I couldn’t adequately remember which character was which and definitely lost track of everyone’s motivations in the convoluted plot. It all ended in ludicrous fashion where it becomes clear that Welles had already decided he wanted to have a final scene in a hall of mirrors and made a ridiculous way of shoehorning it into the plot even though it made absolutely zero sense that the scene could ever have materialised. Unfortunately it was just all very silly in the end after a good opening hour. Watched on DVD. See more Kyle M Jul 5 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) See more Jason C 11/17/2024 Some cool camera angles. Turned into a courthouse drama in the middle. But Rita Hayworth you could imagine getting in too deep for. See more David W @Wheels642 09/29/2024 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! See more Georgan G 09/18/2024 The complex plot grabs my attention, and the acting is terrific. Got tired of Welles' "accent," but he & Rita have chemistry that counts. See more helder f 08/18/2024 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. See more Read all reviews
The Lady From Shanghai

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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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