West of Shanghai (1937)

65 mins | Drama | 30 October 1937

Director:

John Farrow

Writer:

Crane Wilbur

Cinematographer:

Lu O'Connell

Editor:

Frank Dewar

Production Designer:

Max Parker

Production Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
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HISTORY

The film's pre-release titles were: Warlord, China Bandit, The Adventures of Chang and Cornered. Several trade papers reviewed the picture as Warlord. Porter Emerson Browne and Charles Hanson Towne wrote a novel entitled The Bad Man (New York, 1921). Only the play is credited onscreen. The original play was set in Mexico. Other films based on the same play included The Bad Man, a 1923 First National film directed by Edwin Carewe and starring Holbrook Blinn (who also starred in the stage production), and a 1930 film of the same title directed by Clarence Badger and starring Walter Huston (see ;AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0237 and F2.0238). In 1941, M-G-M made a version entitled The Bad Man, starring Wallace Beery and Ronald Reagan and directed by Richard Thorpe. ...

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The film's pre-release titles were: Warlord, China Bandit, The Adventures of Chang and Cornered. Several trade papers reviewed the picture as Warlord. Porter Emerson Browne and Charles Hanson Towne wrote a novel entitled The Bad Man (New York, 1921). Only the play is credited onscreen. The original play was set in Mexico. Other films based on the same play included The Bad Man, a 1923 First National film directed by Edwin Carewe and starring Holbrook Blinn (who also starred in the stage production), and a 1930 film of the same title directed by Clarence Badger and starring Walter Huston (see ;AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0237 and F2.0238). In 1941, M-G-M made a version entitled The Bad Man, starring Wallace Beery and Ronald Reagan and directed by Richard Thorpe.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
6 Jul 1937
p. 3
Film Daily
1 Nov 1937
p. 18
Hollywood Reporter
25 Feb 1937
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
6 Mar 1937
p. 1
Hollywood Reporter
6 Jul 1937
p. 3
Motion Picture Daily
9 Jul 1937
p. 2
Motion Picture Herald
10 Apr 1937
p. 48
Motion Picture Herald
17 Jul 1937
p. 46
New York Times
29 Oct 1937
p. 19
Variety
3 Nov 1937
p. 15
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
PRODUCTION TEXT
A First National Picture
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Dial dir
Asst dir
PRODUCERS
Exec prod
Exec prod
Assoc prod
WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
Lu O'Connell
Photog
ART DIRECTOR
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
COSTUMES
Gowns
PRODUCTION MISC
Tommy Gubbins
Tech adv
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the play The Bad Man by Porter Emerson Browne (New York, 30 Sep 1920).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
DETAILS
Alternate Titles:
China Bandit
Cornered
The Adventures of Chang
Warlord
Release Date:
30 October 1937
Production Date:
began 8 Mar 1937
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
29 September 1937
LP7513
Physical Properties:
Sound
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
65
Length(in reels):
7
Country:
United States
PCA No:
3210
SYNOPSIS

Businessmen Gordon Creed and Myron Galt and Galt's daughter Lola are all on a train bound for north China where bandit Wu Yen Fang is threatening the populace. Although the apparent purpose of Gordon's trip is a visit to his estranged wife Jane, who is working as a medical missionary, his ulterior motive is to become a partner in Jim Hallet's oil fields. Galt is also traveling to the oil fields. He loaned Jim the money to begin drilling, and as Jim defaulted on the loan, Galt intends to take over the fields. During their trip, General Chow Fu-Shan, a soldier fighting the bandits, is killed, and the three Americans are questioned by the police before they set off by mule train for the north. Jim meets them and directs them to the medical mission, as Fang is dangerously active further north. No sooner have they arrived at the mission, where it is apparent that Jane and Jim are in love, than Fang attacks. Out of gratitude to Jim for having once saved his life, Fang tries to solve Jim's problems. After putting down a rebellion fomented by Gordon, Fang kills him. A spy alerts Chinese troops to Fang's presence at the mission, and during the ensuing battle, Fang surrenders to the soldiers and is executed. Now that Gordon is dead, Jane is free to marry ...

More Less

Businessmen Gordon Creed and Myron Galt and Galt's daughter Lola are all on a train bound for north China where bandit Wu Yen Fang is threatening the populace. Although the apparent purpose of Gordon's trip is a visit to his estranged wife Jane, who is working as a medical missionary, his ulterior motive is to become a partner in Jim Hallet's oil fields. Galt is also traveling to the oil fields. He loaned Jim the money to begin drilling, and as Jim defaulted on the loan, Galt intends to take over the fields. During their trip, General Chow Fu-Shan, a soldier fighting the bandits, is killed, and the three Americans are questioned by the police before they set off by mule train for the north. Jim meets them and directs them to the medical mission, as Fang is dangerously active further north. No sooner have they arrived at the mission, where it is apparent that Jane and Jim are in love, than Fang attacks. Out of gratitude to Jim for having once saved his life, Fang tries to solve Jim's problems. After putting down a rebellion fomented by Gordon, Fang kills him. A spy alerts Chinese troops to Fang's presence at the mission, and during the ensuing battle, Fang surrenders to the soldiers and is executed. Now that Gordon is dead, Jane is free to marry Jim.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.