West of Shanghai
Encyclopedia
West of Shanghai is a 1937 adventure film
directed by John Farrow
and starring Boris Karloff
as a Chinese warlord.
) encounters acquaintance Myron Galt and his attractive daughter Lola (Sheila Bromley
). Galt is on his way to foreclose on a very promising oilfield built up by Jim Hallet (Gordon Oliver
). Creed, on the other hand, wants to offer Hallet enough money to pay off his loan from Galt (for a tidy share of the oilfield).
Creed is annoyed when his reserved compartment is appropriated by General Chow Fu-Shan (Vladimir Sokoloff
). The general is on his way to deal with self-styled General Wu Yen Fang (Boris Karloff), a warlord who has taken control of a province. However, Chow Fu-Shan is assassinated on the train by one of Fang's men.
After being questioned by military governor General Ma, the three travel by horse to a remote town, where they find not only Hallet (Gordon Oliver
), but Creed's estranged wife Jane (Beverly Roberts
), who is working for missionary Dr. Abernathy. Then, Fang's subordinate, Captain Kung Nui (Chester Gan
) and his men take over the town. When Kung Nui casts his eyes on Jane, Hallet impulsively punches him. Jane and Hallet have fallen in love, though she does not believe in divorce and has kept their relationship strictly platonic. Hallet is knocked out and imprisoned.
When Fang arrives, he tries to persuade Jane to go with him, promising she would enjoy it (blithely explaining "I am Fang"). Hallet escapes with the help of an associate disguised as one of Fang's soldiers, and sends him to notify General Ma of Fang's whereabouts. Hallet then breaks in on Fang and Jane's private discussion. Fortunately for Hallet, Fang remembers him. Hallet once hid a coolie
and dug three bullets out of his shoulder; that was Fang before his meteoric rise. The warlord decides to help his benefactor. Fang robs Creed of $50,000, uses it to pay Galt what Hallet owes, then takes the money and offers it to Dr. Abernathy.
Creed bribes Captain Kung Nui to rebel against Fang. Kung Nui wants to regain face
by having Hallet executed. Fang pretends to give in, but just before a firing squad shoots the oilman, Fang has his right hand man, Mr. Cheng (Richard Loo
), kill Kung Nui. Afterward, Fang personally shoots Creed to fix Hallet's romantic problem, but only manages to wound him.
Government troops arrive and force their way into the town. In the confusion, Jane, accompanied by Hallet, goes to attend to her husband's wound. Creed produces a gun and announces that Hallet is going to have a fatal accident, but is killed by Fang.
With the battle lost, Fang decides to surrender rather than risk the lives of his captives by fighting to the end. He is taken out and shot.
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
directed by John Farrow
John Farrow
John Villiers Farrow, CBE was an Australian, later American, film director, producer and screenwriter. In 1957 he won the Academy Award for Best Writing / Best Screenplay for Around the World in Eighty Days and in 1942 he was nominated as Best Director for Wake Island.-Life and career:Farrow was...
and starring Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
as a Chinese warlord.
Plot
On a train bound for lawless northern China, businessman Gordon Creed (Ricardo CortezRicardo Cortez
Jacob Krantz , known by his stage name Ricardo Cortez, was an American film actor who began his career during the silent era.-Life and career:...
) encounters acquaintance Myron Galt and his attractive daughter Lola (Sheila Bromley
Sheila Bromley
Sheila Bromley, sometimes billed as Sheila LeGay, Sheila Manners, Sheila Mannors or Sheila Manors was an American television and film actress...
). Galt is on his way to foreclose on a very promising oilfield built up by Jim Hallet (Gordon Oliver
Gordon Oliver
Gordon Oliver was an American actor and film producer. He appeared in over 45 films and television shows between 1933 and 1972.-Selected filmography:* West of Shanghai...
). Creed, on the other hand, wants to offer Hallet enough money to pay off his loan from Galt (for a tidy share of the oilfield).
Creed is annoyed when his reserved compartment is appropriated by General Chow Fu-Shan (Vladimir Sokoloff
Vladimir Sokoloff
-Biography:Sokoloff was born in Moscow, Russia. He became an actor and assistant director with the Moscow Art Theatre, before emigrating to Berlin in 1923...
). The general is on his way to deal with self-styled General Wu Yen Fang (Boris Karloff), a warlord who has taken control of a province. However, Chow Fu-Shan is assassinated on the train by one of Fang's men.
After being questioned by military governor General Ma, the three travel by horse to a remote town, where they find not only Hallet (Gordon Oliver
Gordon Oliver
Gordon Oliver was an American actor and film producer. He appeared in over 45 films and television shows between 1933 and 1972.-Selected filmography:* West of Shanghai...
), but Creed's estranged wife Jane (Beverly Roberts
Beverly Roberts
Beverly Roberts was an American film and stage actress of the 1930s, and entertainment business executive through the 1970s.-Career:...
), who is working for missionary Dr. Abernathy. Then, Fang's subordinate, Captain Kung Nui (Chester Gan
Chester Gan
Chester Gan or at times Chester Gann was an American actor of Chinese descent. If there was a quintessential Asian John Smith character, then Chester Gan was that person...
) and his men take over the town. When Kung Nui casts his eyes on Jane, Hallet impulsively punches him. Jane and Hallet have fallen in love, though she does not believe in divorce and has kept their relationship strictly platonic. Hallet is knocked out and imprisoned.
When Fang arrives, he tries to persuade Jane to go with him, promising she would enjoy it (blithely explaining "I am Fang"). Hallet escapes with the help of an associate disguised as one of Fang's soldiers, and sends him to notify General Ma of Fang's whereabouts. Hallet then breaks in on Fang and Jane's private discussion. Fortunately for Hallet, Fang remembers him. Hallet once hid a coolie
Coolie
Historically, a coolie was a manual labourer or slave from Asia, particularly China, India, and the Phillipines during the 19th century and early 20th century...
and dug three bullets out of his shoulder; that was Fang before his meteoric rise. The warlord decides to help his benefactor. Fang robs Creed of $50,000, uses it to pay Galt what Hallet owes, then takes the money and offers it to Dr. Abernathy.
Creed bribes Captain Kung Nui to rebel against Fang. Kung Nui wants to regain face
Face (sociological concept)
Face, idiomatically meaning dignity/prestige, is a fundamental concept in the fields of sociology, sociolinguistics, semantics, politeness theory, psychology, political science, communication, and Face Negotiation Theory.-Definitions:...
by having Hallet executed. Fang pretends to give in, but just before a firing squad shoots the oilman, Fang has his right hand man, Mr. Cheng (Richard Loo
Richard Loo
Richard Loo was a Chinese American film actor who was one of the most familiar Asian character actors in American films of the 1930s and 1940s. A prolific actor, he appeared in over 120 films between 1931 and 1982....
), kill Kung Nui. Afterward, Fang personally shoots Creed to fix Hallet's romantic problem, but only manages to wound him.
Government troops arrive and force their way into the town. In the confusion, Jane, accompanied by Hallet, goes to attend to her husband's wound. Creed produces a gun and announces that Hallet is going to have a fatal accident, but is killed by Fang.
With the battle lost, Fang decides to surrender rather than risk the lives of his captives by fighting to the end. He is taken out and shot.
Cast
- Boris KarloffBoris KarloffWilliam Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
as General Wu Yen Fang - Beverly RobertsBeverly RobertsBeverly Roberts was an American film and stage actress of the 1930s, and entertainment business executive through the 1970s.-Career:...
as Mrs. Jane Creed - Ricardo CortezRicardo CortezJacob Krantz , known by his stage name Ricardo Cortez, was an American film actor who began his career during the silent era.-Life and career:...
as Gordon Creed - Gordon OliverGordon OliverGordon Oliver was an American actor and film producer. He appeared in over 45 films and television shows between 1933 and 1972.-Selected filmography:* West of Shanghai...
as Jim Hallet - Sheila BromleySheila BromleySheila Bromley, sometimes billed as Sheila LeGay, Sheila Manners, Sheila Mannors or Sheila Manors was an American television and film actress...
as Lola Galt - Vladimir SokoloffVladimir Sokoloff-Biography:Sokoloff was born in Moscow, Russia. He became an actor and assistant director with the Moscow Art Theatre, before emigrating to Berlin in 1923...
as General Chow Fu-Shan - Gordon Hart as Dr. Abernathy
- Richard LooRichard LooRichard Loo was a Chinese American film actor who was one of the most familiar Asian character actors in American films of the 1930s and 1940s. A prolific actor, he appeared in over 120 films between 1931 and 1982....
as Mr. Cheng - Chester GanChester GanChester Gan or at times Chester Gann was an American actor of Chinese descent. If there was a quintessential Asian John Smith character, then Chester Gan was that person...
as Captain Kung Nui