Shanghai Surprise (1986)
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14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
17% of users liked it
(5,641 ratings)
Madonna and Sean Penn, who were husband and wife at the time, starred in this notorious box-office bomb that one critic termed "Flop Suey." The film takes place in 1937, during the Japanese occupation of China. Drug runner Walter Faraday (Paul Freeman) is trying to leave the country with a… More Madonna and Sean Penn, who were husband and wife at the time, starred in this notorious box-office bomb that one critic termed "Flop Suey." The film takes place in 1937, during the Japanese occupation of China. Drug runner Walter Faraday (Paul Freeman) is trying to leave the country with a large stash of opium but he is chased by armed guards and killed. A year passes and missionary Gloria Tatlock (Madonna) hires sleazy American con man Glendon Wasey (Sean Penn) to help her find the missing opium. She wants to use the drugs to relieve the suffering of wounded Chinese soldiers -- as she puts it, "Guns cause pain. Opium eases pain." Glendon reluctantly agrees. But unfortunately for the two do-gooders, there are other, more notorious seekers of the opium shipment as well. George Harrison, one of the film's producers, wrote the songs and appears in a cameo role as a nightclub singer. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jim Goddard
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Aug 29, 1986 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 22, 2003
- Studio
- Vestron Video
Critic Reviews
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Phil Hall, EDGE Boston
Madonna's incompetent performance secured her reputation as a no-talent actress...and, to date, she still hasn't been able to shake that reputation.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Striking visuals and some good George Harrison songs can't save it.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Sean Penn
as Glendon Wasey
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Madonna
as Gloria Tatlock
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Paul Freeman
as Walter Faraday/Father Burns
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Philip Sayer
as Justin Kronk
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Clyde Kusatsu
as Joe Go
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Sonserai Lee
as China Doll
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Prof. Toru Tanaka
as Yamagani San
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Michael Aldridge
as Mr. Burns
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Sarah Lam
as China Doll's maid
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Won Gam Bor
as Rickshaw King
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Michael Chow
as Street Barker
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To Chee Kan
as China Doll's Boatman
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Kay Tong Lim
as Mei Gan
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George She
as Wu Ch'En She
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Philip Tan
as Ship's Officer
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George Harrison
as Nightclub Singer
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Keith Bonnard
as Maitre'D at Zig-Zag Club
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David Li
as Doorman at Zig-Zag Club
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Claire Lutter
as Prostitute
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Samuel Tsao
as Street Barker
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Pamela Yang
as Prostitute
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Victor Wong
as Ho Chong
- Richard Griffiths
