Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.Shanghai, 1938: A missionary woman hires a fortune hunter to help her find 1100 lbs. opium lost, as wounded need the morphine. Adventure and romance follows.
- Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter principal photography wrapped, executive producer George Harrison allegedly said of the movie's two lead stars Madonna and Sean Penn, "Penn is a pain in the arse . . . [while] she has to realize that you can be a fabulous person and be humble as well". Harrison said the experience was so stressful that he began smoking again, which might have contributed to his death from cancer at the age of 58.
- GoofsDuring the bathhouse scene, Justin tells Glendon that the Chinese use tomato juice to remove the stench of skunks. Skunks only live in North America, not China.
- Quotes
Ho Chong: And you, Reverend Lady, would care for protection for treasured parts?
Gloria Tatlock: No, thank you.
Ho Chong: Your lips and ears, perhaps?
Gloria Tatlock: Thank you, I said no.
Ho Chong: Your twin pagodas, maybe?
Gloria Tatlock: Definitely not!
Ho Chong: Surely, you want to protect your haven of celestial bliss?
Gloria Tatlock: How dare you!
Glendon Wasey: I don't think the haven's in much danger.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert: Matinee/Alive/Body of Evidence/Sniper (1993)
- SoundtracksShanghai Surprise
Music & Lyrics by George Harrison
Performed by George Harrison with Vicki Brown
Courtesy of Dark Horse Records & Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
But it is not- it is Shanghai Surprise, possibly the most ill-conceived movie of the 1980's (and yes, I have seen "Hobgoblins.")
This movie has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Ridiculous plot, painfully bad acting (Madonna as a missionary? She didn't buy it either, so she says her lines in a flat tone which just screams "get me out of this costume and get me my check"), cinematography worthy of an old episode of "Fantasy Island," lame ending.
If, by some chance, you stumble across a copy of this in an unused corner of your local video rental store, call your local hazardous waste disposal hotline- do not rent it.
But do not forget that this horror exists. Some people forgot- and thus "Gigli" was born.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Шанхайський сюрприз
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $17,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,315,683
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $729,885
- Sep 1, 1986
- Gross worldwide
- $2,315,683