SHANGHAI EXPRESS

US, 1932, 80 Minutes, Black and white.
Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, Warner Oland.
Directed by Josef von Sternberg.

Shanghai Express is a famous Josef von Sternberg classic exploiting the talents of Marlene Dietrich. Von Sternberg had promoted her in The Blue Angel in the late 20s in Germany and made several films with her in the early 30s. This is an enjoyable, old-fashioned melodrama of espionage and problems during a train journey. (It was remade with Corinne Calvet and Joseph Cotten as Peking Express.) Marlene Dietrich is her classic sultry self if his film. There is great attention to the way that she is dressed, photographed etc. Unfortunately Clive Brooke is a very stiff-upper-lipped English hero. Old-fashioned melodrama but interesting viewing the Hollywood of the early 30s.

1. The entertainment value of this film? In the 30s and early sound period? Now? How dated does it seem - why?

2. The film as a Marlene Dietrich vehicle? Her star quality and mystique? Her presence, voice? The way that she was photographed in close-up, angles? Clothes, manner? Sexuality?

3. The contrast with Clive Brooke as the leading man? Stiff-upper-lip, humourless Englishman? His style? His responsibilities? The credibility of the liaison between Lil and Donald in the past?

4. Early sound techniques, the quality of the black and white photography, the elaborate sets, especially at the train stations, the camera nDvements, the focusing on the heroine, the use of superimpositions?

5. The effectiveness of the structure: the train journey, the goal of the journey, dangers on the way, the group of people artificially put together and their interaction on one another? Why the appeal of this structure to audiences?

6. How well was the background of China in the early 30s filled in? Peking and and the atmosphere of the station, the civil war and the dangers, the shooting of soldiers, the question of whether trains went on time or not, cattle and birds on the rail tracks. etc.? The talk about life in Shanghai? The number of foreigners present?

7. The atmosphere of China with the presentation of the train and the firstclass travel contrasting with other class travel and the soldiers? The range of people on the train. foreigners? Adventure details such as the code. deaths etc.? British diplomacy?

8. The emergence of Henry Chang as a rebel leader? As a passenger on the train, the various passengers' reaction to him, especially the American? His taking over? The interviewing of each of the passengers and his attitude towards them? The violence of his death? (Easy patriotism?).

9. The range of people on the train and their interaction: the humour and snobbery of the lady with the dog, Carmichael and his religious fanaticism and his looking down on Lil and the Chinese girl. the French soldier and the truth about his uniform, the German opium dealer, the American gambler? The British?

10. The importance of the Chinese girl, the sultry allure, judgements made on her. her killing the rebel leader. her presence at the end being interviewed?

11. The character of Shanghai Lily? The background of her real name. bond with Donald. her reputation, style? Her capacity for love? Her changing on the trip with the re-meeting of Doc? The importance of the dialogue between the two of them with its ironic tones? Implicit sexuality? The basic credibility of her situation and the way that she handled it? Especially at the end with the play about the watch? Kissing in public? How credible a character was Donald Harvey? His situation, relationship with Lily?

12. The tongue-in-cheek treatment? The serious tone adventure? The humour? Typical Hollywood film-making?