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Shanghai Surprise
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Synopsis
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, All Movie Guide

Cast

Michael Aldridge Mr. Burns
Clyde Kusatsu Joe Go
Richard Griffiths Willie Tuttle
Sarah Lam China Doll's maid
Sonserai Lee China Doll
Philip Sayer Justin Kronk
Prof. Toru Tanaka Yamagani San
Paul Freeman Walter Faraday/Father Burns
Madonna Gloria Tatlock
Sean Penn Glendon Wasey

Production Crew

David Minty Art Director
John Siddall Art Director
Tony Kenrick Book Author
Ernest Vincze Cinematographer
Robin Douet Co-producer
George Harrison Composer (Music Score)
Michael Kamen Composer (Music Score)
Judy Moorcraft Costume Designer
Jim Goddard Director
Ralph Sheldon Editor
Denis O'Brien Executive Producer
George Harrison Executive Producer
Christine Beveridge Makeup
Graham Freeborn Makeup
John Kohn Producer
Peter Mullins Production Designer
John Kohn Screenwriter
Robert Bentley Screenwriter
Robert Bentley Screenwriter
Tony Kenrick Screenwriter
Jack Stephens Set Designer
George Harrison Songwriter
Jeff Lynne Songwriter
Dave Beavis Special Effects
David Watkin Special Effects
Andrew Bradford Stunts
Tracey Eddon Stunts
Year: 1986
Runtime: 90
Country: UK
MPAA Rating: PG13
Category: Feature

Genre
Comedy

Sound
Dolby

Produced by
Handmade Films
MGM
United Artists
Vista Organization

Release
August 29, 1986 (USA)
by MGM