MovieChat Forums > The Shanghai Gesture (1942) Discussion > versions

versions

posted 16 years ago by Will-35
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I have seen two (well, more than two) versions of this film. The one on video is VASTLY different and has been cut quite a bit. The one I used to go see at the second run festival here opened with a lengthy trip that Dixie takes from the docks on a rickshaw. She has two conversations during the trip one with a guy on the street and one with Omar. This scene is about 10 minutes or so in length ane is not in the cut version. In addition there are several other scenes that advance the plot, one in particular concerns a conversation between Poppy and her father where he reveals certain things, but since we don't know them, they become clearer later in the film, and a longer scene in the casino when Poppy is gambling.
Anyone know where the uncut version might be available other than from the guy who owns a copy here in Toronto?
thanks
Will

[–] flanagan-3 14 years ago

Last night I viewed the ninety-nine minute version. Several times I thought I had missed lines and I backed the film up to see, but no, I had heard everything. Then I read your post about the longer version and knew what had happened. I still liked the movie but would love to see the longer version. Maybe Criterion will do it.

[–] ksf-2 12 years ago

wow, the original play from the 1920's must have been a real free-for-all... too bad they didnt make film out of it before the Hays code kicked in. Probably would have been a hum-dinger! Interesting bio for John Colton on wikipedia...

ksf-2