IMDb plot summary: Fascinated by gorgeous Mrs. Bannister, seaman Michael O'Hara joins a bizarre yachting cruise, and ends up mired in a complex murder plot.
Directed by Orson Welles. Starring Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, Everett Sloane, and Glenn Anders.
The things that make noir work for me center around the character interactions. I'm fascinated by characters who seem to have dozens of layers to be revealed. That's why The Lady from Shanghai falls so flat for me. The mystery is fun, and the story moves along quickly enough that it's never boring, but Welles' main character doesn't seem to have any depth at all. For someone who narrates the entire movie, you'd think there would be a single personality trait I could think of to describe him, but there isn't. Nothing. He just seems to be a stand-in for anyone else, and as a result, there's a lot lacking in the film. The mystery's worth enjoying, and the final scene really looks great, but I don't think it's a great film.
2 stars.
How it entered my Flickchart:
The Lady from Shanghai < The Madness of King George
The Lady from Shanghai > The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
The Lady from Shanghai > The Hidden Fortress
The Lady from Shanghai < Talk to Her
The Lady from Shanghai < Bride & Prejudice
The Lady from Shanghai > Deja Vu
The Lady from Shanghai < Syrup
The Lady from Shanghai > The Great Escape
The Lady from Shanghai < Dear Frankie
The Lady from Shanghai > Fun Size
Final spot: #1397 out of 2313.
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