Lady From Shanghai - Wellesnet

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1948
87 minutes
Columbia Pictures

Principal Cast:
Orson Welles: Michael O'Hara
Rita Hayworth: Elsa Bannister
Everett Sloane: Arthur Bannister
Glenn Anders: George Grisby
Principal Crew:
Director: Orson Welles
Script: Welles, William Castle, Charles Lederer, Fletcher Markle, others
Editor: Viola Lawrence
Photography: Charles Lawton Jr.
Producer: Harry Cohn

Based on Sherwood Anderson's novel If I Die Before I Wake, The Lady From Shanghai marked Welles' fourth completed studio film and fourth (counting It's All True) film victimized by studio interference. Filming began in October of 1946 and finished in February of 1947, featuring location work in Mexico, as well as using Errol Flynn's yacht, the Zaca. The film was initially to have been a quick, low budget affair, but Rita Hayworth saw the opportunity for a reconciliation with Welles and a plum role in Elsa. The attempt at making the marriage work failed, and Columbia head Harry Cohn hated the film, forcing Welles to insert "glamour" shots of Hayworth and a musical number ("Please Don't Kiss Me"). Also, Welles' music and sound plans for the film were left ignored, as the studio gave scoring responsiblities to Heinz Roemheld, a company hack who cranked out a fast, unimaginative score that does great damage to the picture. Cohn held the picture back from release for a year, eventually releasing it with little fanfare. Despite the awful score, Lady From Shanghai remains a fascinating film, with deliriously great performances from Glenn Anders and Everett Sloane. The famous funhouse finale has been "paid homage" (ie copied) numerous times over the years. The film would remain Welles' last major Hollywood film until Touch of Evil ten years later.

ADVERTISING MATERIALS

One sheet poster
Color shot of Rita Hayworth
Rita in the funhouse - still
Rita Hayworth publicity shot
Link to Rita Hayworth site with LFS promo photos
Still of Bannister convincing O'Hara to work for him

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