Lady From Shanghai

Year: 1947

Grade: C+

Country: USA

Director: Welles

Review

i’d seen this film before and sorta liked it, but didn’t remember much about it. actually the last time i watched it came just two days after seeing “a walk in the sun” for the first time. that’s odd considering i just watch “a walk in the sun” three days ago for the same reason that i decided to watch this film – refresh my memory. the second time around i liked a walk in the sun more and liked this film less. there’s really no way of getting around the fact that welles was a great director throughout his entire career, but i just don’t like his style for some reason. citizen kane is great, but touch of evil and this film just don’t really do it for me. there are moments where i find myself getting into the film, but they’re only moments and there aren’t enough of them. welles has a singular visual style, one that’s fairly easy to spot if you watch a film of his for a few minutes. lots of extremes – in lighting, angles, etc. he’s fond of mirrors, close-ups, radio and more. the courtroom sequence is a little fantastic (as in far-fetched). glenn anders, who plays george grisby, had the most memorable performance of the film. he plays a smarmy, slightly “off” kind of character. his inflection when he says “taaarget praKtice,” for example, is classic. i expected him to be a more substantial actor, but he only appeared in ten films between 1925-51. rita hayworth is hot, but not a great actress.