The Shanghai Gesture

The Shanghai Gesture is a 1941 United Artists film noir motion picture starring Gene Tierney and Walter Huston, with Victor Mature, and Ona Munson.

Related Topics:
1941 - United Artists - Film noir - Motion picture - Gene Tierney - Walter Huston - Victor Mature - Ona Munson

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It was adapted for the screen by Josef von Sternberg, based on the play by John Colton, and was directed by von Sternberg.

Related Topics:
Josef von Sternberg - Play - John Colton

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The Shanghai Gesture received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Original Music Score.

Related Topics:
Academy Award - Best Art Direction - Best Original Music Score

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This early noir drama explores the decadent lives and secret pasts of all the main characters, following many stories in an almost-surreal gambling house owned by "Mother" Gin Sling (played by Munson).

Related Topics:
Drama - Gambling

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A young woman, Victoria Charteris, also known as Poppy Smith (played by Tierney), is out for some excitement in Shanghai, and enters Gin Sling's establishment.

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Dragon-lady Gin Sling worked herself up from poverty to buy the casino, only to now see it in danger of being taken over by Sir Guy Charteris (played by Huston), a wealthy entrepreneur who has purchased a large area of Shanghai, and is forcing Gin Sling to vacate by the coming Chinese New Year.

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Under orders from Gin Sling, who has found out Poppy is Charteris's daughter, a fez-wearing Doctor Omar (played by Mature) leads Poppy deeper and deeper into an addiction to gambling and alcohol.

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Gin Sling, realizing that Charteris was her long-ago husband, who she thinks abandoned her, plans her revenge by inviting Charteris to a Chinese New Year dinner party to expose his past indiscretions. Charteris, however, has a surprise of his own to spring on Gin Sling.

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