Rent The Lady From Shanghai for FREE

Start your 30 day FREE trial » Find out more

+70,000 other titles and counting

Thousands of movies and TV series to watch instantly
NO late fees or long term contracts - cancel anytime
FREE first class post for Britain’s largest range of DVDs, Blu-rays & Games

The Lady From Shanghai Reviews

1948

70
from 1670 members

The Lady From Shanghai, a complex, involving puzzle-within-a-puzzle mystery story, is a showcase for Orson Welles, showing his singular talents and sensibilities as few other films have. The story is superficially simple: a seaman Michael O'Hara (Welles) is hired as a crew member on the yacht of the wealthy Banister (Everett .. Read more

Starring	Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, Everett Sloane, Glenn Anders
Director	Orson Welles
Genres	Drama

Sign up The Lady From Shanghai DVD

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Critic's review of The Lady From Shanghai
View all (1)
- Murky pastiche of film noir that deliberately confuses fantasy and reality; the central character might have been spared a great deal of misery if he had been better acquainted with Welles's The Lady from Shanghai.
- 32635
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of The Lady From Shanghai
View all members' reviews (16)
- - 5
  - 0
  Nice photography
  
  Not one of Welles' best. His accent was so off-putting I almost stopped watching.
  
  The plus points were Rita Hayworth, who was stunning and her ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 19390
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Surrey
  - 23 Sep 2004 at 20:36
Most recent members' reviews of The Lady From Shanghai
View all members' reviews (16)
- - 17
  - 19
  The words " pretentious" and "drivel" are the first to spring to mind.....
  
  This is a really disappointing film, as IMHO are so many Orson Welles movies. Yes, he has some credites to his name.......but so many self-indulgent,arty-farty... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1056772
- - roncoach
  - 263 reviews
  - suffolk
  - 29 Oct 2011 at 23:56
- - 0
  - 0
  Badly dated
  
  I know this is suppose to be a Welles classic but I found it had dated badly. The hall of mirrors stuff at the end looks corny and obvious now and the plot, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1027573
- - quintus
  - 52 reviews
  - Witney
  - 10 Aug 2011 at 19:03
- - 0
  - 2
  Really good, but I need to watch this film.
  
  Was quite tired when I watched this film and didnt give it my full attention when I watched it, which was daft, as what I did watch I loved. Hayworth's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 982817
- - BeccyMalloi
  - 124 reviews
  - Kersey, Suffolk
  - 15 Apr 2011 at 13:55
- - 1
  - 0
  The Lady From Shanghai (1948)
  
  As with most of Welles' US films this was cut to ribbons by the studio after negative test screenings - but as the recent restoration of Touch of Evil back ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 836974
- - Teebs
  - 160 reviews
  - Rochester
  - 04 Dec 2009 at 09:58
- - 1
  - 1
  Lady from Shanghai
  
  Orson Welles writes, directs and acts in a weird, grotesque and brilliant noir - packed with invention and off-kilter style.
  
  Report this review
- 802718
- - standardman
  - 90 reviews
  - Littleborough
  - 25 Aug 2009 at 18:40
- - 0
  - 0
  You need more than luck in Shanghai
  
  Not one of Welles's best films, but one that shows how he could bring style, in dialogue and photography, to any old schlock. It's certainly more ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 779684
- - Deditos
  - 15 reviews
  - Reading
  - 04 Jul 2009 at 23:41
- - 0
  - 0
  Silly but fun
  
  A little light relief - classy but not surprisingly dated! Just relax and enjoy this one but don't expect too much.
  
  Report this review
- 769367
- - a customer
  - Powick
  - 10 Jun 2009 at 21:06
- - 8
  - 7
  Awful Film by Today's Standards
  
  OK, maybe Orson Wells is a genius, and this film has some really wonderful cinegraphic moments. Maybe Orson Wells wasn't to blame for over an hour being cut... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 402036
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 14 Jan 2007 at 12:59
- - 0
  - 0
  Everybody is somebody's fool.
  
  Husband and wife Welles and Hayworth team up for this interesting noir mystery: he as a tough Irish sailor (with... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 374790
- - ChesterDent
  - 121 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Oct 2006 at 17:31
- - 1
  - 0
  Surreal nightmare
  
  What could have been a key film in the noir cycle suffered the same fate as many of Welles Hollywood films by being butchered by the studio. What is left is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 207502
- - Leon Collins
  - London
  - 16 Feb 2006 at 14:02
View all members' reviews (16)

- - 5
  - 0
  Nice photography
  
  Not one of Welles' best. His accent was so off-putting I almost stopped watching.
  
  The plus points were Rita Hayworth, who was stunning and her ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 19390
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Surrey
  - 23 Sep 2004 at 20:36
- - 4
  - 1
  One of the master's weirder efforts
  
  Don't be put off by Welles' laughable accent (an unfathomable effort at New York Irish) or the bizarre dialogue the mars the first fifteen minutes. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 298715
- - jontyrush
  - London
  - 31 Jan 2004 at 12:54
- - 8
  - 7
  Awful Film by Today's Standards
  
  OK, maybe Orson Wells is a genius, and this film has some really wonderful cinegraphic moments. Maybe Orson Wells wasn't to blame for over an hour being cut... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 402036
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 14 Jan 2007 at 12:59
- - 1
  - 0
  Surreal nightmare
  
  What could have been a key film in the noir cycle suffered the same fate as many of Welles Hollywood films by being butchered by the studio. What is left is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 207502
- - Leon Collins
  - London
  - 16 Feb 2006 at 14:02
- - 1
  - 0
  Mmmm, Interesting
  
  This is an interesting episode in the Welles canon. Make sure you watch it all the way through because initially it seems rather lame. Welles begins the movie ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 296962
- - abongiman
  - devon
  - 02 Jan 2004 at 20:31
- - 1
  - 0
  The Lady From Shanghai (1948)
  
  As with most of Welles' US films this was cut to ribbons by the studio after negative test screenings - but as the recent restoration of Touch of Evil back ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 836974
- - Teebs
  - 160 reviews
  - Rochester
  - 04 Dec 2009 at 09:58
- - 0
  - 0
  sharks mad with their own blood
  
  includes some great scenes: a chaotic courtroom with a lawyer interogating himself,Orson hiding out in a noisy Chinese theatre,a shoot out in an amusement park... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 5309
- - john evans
  - cardiff,wales.
  - 01 May 2004 at 13:19
- - 1
  - 1
  Irish....why?
  
  All the times that I've read about this film being a classic no one seemed to mention the accent. Why did he do it? Wife Rita Hayworth smouldered in one of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 175877
- - Shona
  - Peterborough
  - 19 Nov 2005 at 12:02
- - 0
  - 0
  Not a bad watch
  
  Not one of Orson Welles better films. Rita Hayworth shone in this film. Anyway, it was worth a watch. Not what I expected !
  
  Report this review
- 180294
- - a customer
  - West Midlands
  - 01 Dec 2005 at 08:30
- - 0
  - 0
  Everybody is somebody's fool.
  
  Husband and wife Welles and Hayworth team up for this interesting noir mystery: he as a tough Irish sailor (with... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 374790
- - ChesterDent
  - 121 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Oct 2006 at 17:31

< Prev
1
2
Next >

Critic's review
- Murky pastiche of film noir that deliberately confuses fantasy and reality; the central character might have been spared a great deal of misery if he had been better acquainted with Welles's The Lady from Shanghai.
- 32635
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42

Agree or disagree? Write your own review

Review title: Give it a rating:

Write your review:

Tips for writing helpful reviews

Only review titles you've actually seen!
Talk about what you liked and disliked
Compare this title with other similar titles
Provide plenty of detail - at least 20 words
Space things out - use blank lines between paragraphs.
Be appropriate - no adult content, libellous statements or naughty words
Don't SPAM! No promoting of other websites or services
Don't plaguerise! Your submission must be your own original work
Don't talk about LOVEFiLM by name

Give it a title:

Tips for an eye catching title

Don't just repeat the name of the title you're reviewing
Don't summarise your entire review in one word - a minimum of 2 words please.
Give people a reason to read your full review - create a sense of intrigue or curiosity!

Keep me anonymous Keep me anonymous Contains spoiler? This review contains spoilers (or might spoil it for someone who hasn't seen it yet)

New users register here

Email address:
Password:
Preferred user name:
I agree to LOVEFiLMs Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
I'd like to receive film news and reviews as well as info about all the other good stuff LOVEFiLM offers

Already a member? Sign in here

Email address:
Password:Forgotten password?

By clicking Preview review you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Lady From Shanghai
  
  The Lady From Shanghai, a complex, involving puzzle-within-a-puzzle mystery story, is a showcase for Orson Welles, showing his singular talents and sensibilities as few other films have. The story is superficially simple: a seaman Michael O'Hara (Welles) is hired as a crew member on the yacht of ...