Watch West of Shanghai For Free

Absolutely the worst movie.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

From Fang to want...er, sorry, Wong, Boris Karloff tries to underact in this Chinese set political thriller where rebel general Karloff holds a group of Americans hostage. Karloff ends up turning into a character from a George Arliss film as he interferes in a romantic triangle while dealing with his political agenda. Ricardo Cortez, separated from wife Beverly Roberts, must deal with the fact that Karloff seemingly is willing to kill him so Roberts can marry Gordon Oliver. With each declaration of "I am Fang", Karloff's subtlety goes out the window, becoming more aggravating than John Malkovich's repeating of "Beyond my Control" in "Dangerous Liasons". With only minimal focus on the Chinese military's efforts to put an end to Karloff's reign of terror, this is an extremely dull programmer, only coming to life through some wisecracks from supporting characters Sheila Bromley and the minimal action and tension towards the end. The mixture of obvious non Asian actors and real Asians is laughably absurd. Still, production design is good, and in spite of the torrid script, decently directed.

Enjoyable programmer from Warner Bros. about some Americans going to a Chinese village to negotiate oil drilling rights from another American and finding themselves "guests" of a ruthless Chinese warlord named Fang (Boris Karloff). Fang's not all bad, though. One of the oilmen (Gordon Oliver) saved Fang's life before he rose to power and the warlord tries to help him out, in love and business. It's a routine adventure flick from the period when 'the mysterious Orient' was all the rage. Certain elements, such as the yellowface makeup, will offend some today. So gird your loins if you're a sensitive type. Karloff is the primary reason to see this. He's always fun to watch and here he manages to imbue a somewhat villainous character with sympathy and humor. Ricardo Cortez plays the real villain of the piece, a total slimeball. For his part, Gordon Oliver is the hero, albeit a banal one. Beverly Roberts plays Cortez's estranged wife who's in love with Oliver now. Sheila Bromley plays the only other female part and gets several funny lines. Vladimir Sokoloff appears all-too-briefly as a rival to Karloff. The rest of the cast includes Chester Gan, Richard Loo, and Gordon Hart. It's nothing special but a good way to kill an hour. Definitely more fun for Karloff fans than anyone else.

Fans of Boris Karloff should enjoy this B feature not because it is a great example of 1930's horror, but because it isn't. Made at a time when Hollywood had set a self-imposed moratorium on monster movies, "West of Shanghai" proves that Karloff could survive as a character star, delivering a well-conceived interpretation of a likable but mercenary Chinese warlord. He is a joy to watch, engaging his American captives in sardonic broken English, doling out his own brand of makeshift justice, and, at least in his own mind, exercising nobility as he faces execution. The rest of the cast is standard, except for Ricardo Cortez, who registers very well (as he did in Karloff's "The Walking Dead") as an attractive, well-polished heel. Director John Farrow sets a crisp pace and doesn't allow the film to drag. "West of Shanghai" may not be one of the best Karloff films, but his presence certainly makes it more than noteworthy.

Boris Karloff is a renegade Chinese warlord, with his mind set on military success and sex. Ricardo Cortez begins the film as the "romantic lead", but Karloff's character ends up being the more sympathetic of the two. This is a B movie that knows it, and it pretty much succeeds in everything it does attempt. Interesting parallel towards the end between Gordon Oliver's barely-missed execution and Karloff's more final one. Karloff's makeup does not convince, but his performance does; he brings humor and strength to the character.