wes-connors In far eastern Shanghai, wealthy westerners enjoy singing and dancing to the hit song "Singin' in the Rain" (a contemporary hit then, memorably revived for MGM's 1952 musical). Among the party-goers, American playboy Conrad Nagel (as Howard Vazey) romances British socialite Kay Johnson (as Dorothy Daley). With three other upper-class passengers, they get on board a yacht bound for San Francisco. Brutish and angry steward Louis Wolheim (as Ted) is on "The Ship from Shanghai" and, as you quickly know, he hates snooty rich people – with a passion. "Willowy English girls, fair and pink" arouse Mr. Wolheim, who plans to take over the ship and abduct Ms. Johnson...Making his "all-talking" feature debut, director Charles Brabin is clearly getting his feet wet under the new microphones. He is unable to lead an interesting cast to good, consistent performances. New to motion pictures, Johnson comes across best; she had just co-starred with Mr. Nagel in Cecil B. DeMille's "Dynamite" (1929). Watching Nagel's career falter is sad; he was an engaging and popular actor. "Silent" film stars Carmel Myers and Holmes Herbert (as Viola and Paul Thorpe) attend to the secondary roles, with veteran stage actress Zeffie Tilbury on board as an old society lady. Some of the acting works better with the sound turned down, but some is just overwrought, period.**** The Ship from Shanghai (1/31/30) Charles Brabin ~ Louis Wolheim, Kay Johnson, Conrad Nagel, Carmel Myers

Al Westerfield Some of the reviewers found it hard to place themselves in a 1930 audience. Remember, studios thought that as much music as possible should be added even to the most stolid plots. The question is, did the film work? I say yes. Conrad Nagle was excellent in playing the worldly, self-absorbed elite. Kay Johnson shows she was one of the best early talking picture leads. But the film belongs to Louis Walheim who has the role of his career. His descent into madness is amazing. The final scenes between him and Johnson squeeze every emotion dry. By today's standards it's over the top but by 1930s standards it has few equals. While the film is not altogether successful, the acting, cinematography and even the early sound demand appreciation.

utgard14 Thuggish steward (Louis Wolheim) leads a mutiny aboard a yacht. The first half of the film makes us kind of hate the rich passengers on the yacht, particularly the insipid romance of Conrad Nagel and Kay Johnson. But after the mutiny the film seems to shift sympathies back to them and away from the highly entertaining power-hungry steward. The whole movie centers on Louis Wolheim's intense performance. Wolheim died the year after this was released. I was surprised to find out he was actually a math teacher at Cornell before his acting career. This is an OK movie considering the age. It creaks a little but not as badly as some claim. Amusingly, despite living under harsh conditions adrift at sea for days or weeks with very little water or food, neither Nagel nor Johnson ever have their hair mussed up.

drednm Early talkie could have been good but the hideous performance of Louis Wolheim and bad direction kill this effort despite some good work by Kay Johnson, Zeffie Tilbury, and Carmel Myers. Even Conrad Nagel is not all that bad, but the endless monologues of Wolheim kill any tempo this film might have had plus he's just plain bad. This is one of several talkie flops that ruined Nagel's starring career; this is also Myers' first major talkie. Too bad. She was interesting. Johnson has a couple of dynamite scene, and Tilbury (famous as the grandmother in The Grapes of Wrath a decade later) is awfully good as Lady Daley. Holmes Herbert, Jack MacDonald, and Ivan Linow co-star.