Shanghai

One place that seems iconic for the 30s and 40s is Shanghai. It seems to have been an interesting blend of east and west, as well as popularizing the look of women in red qipaos.

There´s a new movie out, called simply Shanghai, which is set there in the 1940s. It features Chow Yun Fat, John Cusack and a few others.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend movies set in 1940s urban China? I know 2046 by Wong Kar Wai is set during that time. Any other good ones? The language is not important, I can cope with subtitles.

Tags: China, Chow, Fat, Gong, Li, Shanghai, Singapore, Yun

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Permalink Reply by Cap'n Tony on July 29, 2011 at 9:06am

It makes an appearance at the opening to Temple of Doom, for one. Others...I'll have to research. Certainly All Things Chinese (in Western eyes), be it Shanghai or Chinatown, Mandarin Dresses and silk sport coats, Ming vases and Chinese architecture, Opium Dens and Tea Houses, or (unfortunately) Yellow Peril & Dragon Lady stereotypes, are intrinsically linked to the Diesel aestetic.

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Permalink Reply by Elvisrocks59 on February 1, 2012 at 9:00am

Try..... Lust, Caution. An espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai.

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Permalink Reply by lord_k on February 1, 2012 at 5:19pm

In my eyes, 1920s-1930s Shanghai is the Dieselpunk capital of Asia - with its Deco architecture, rapid development and everything Western mixed with everything Oriental.

Cap'n Tony said:

It makes an appearance at the opening to Temple of Doom, for one. Others...I'll have to research. Certainly All Things Chinese (in Western eyes), be it Shanghai or Chinatown, Mandarin Dresses and silk sport coats, Ming vases and Chinese architecture, Opium Dens and Tea Houses, or (unfortunately) Yellow Peril & Dragon Lady stereotypes, are intrinsically linked to the Diesel aestetic.

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Permalink Reply by Spooky on February 1, 2012 at 10:30pm

Elvisrocks59 said:

Try..... Lust, Caution. An espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai.

I saw this listed on Netflix but have yet to watch it...any good

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Permalink Reply by Komissar Hass on February 2, 2012 at 12:19am

I entirely agree with the equation "Shanghai= the Asian Dieselpunk Capital". Personally having lived in Shanghai for some years in childhood, and having visited it last spring once more, I can say that now it gives a feel of some morbid, yet fascinating "oriental-capitalist-revolutianary-communist-mafia" dieselpunk mix simultaneously with classic cyberpunk images. Especially good images are two shores of Huangpujiang with "architecture musemum" The Bund on one and modern Pudong skyscrappers on the other, Nanjing road scenery (pictured below), French District...

and also I must mention the beautiful (but a bit "decayed") building of Russian Consulate

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Permalink Reply by Cap'n Tony on February 3, 2012 at 12:41pm

Soon the Cabaret will visit Shanghai, FWIW.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Zarkov on February 15, 2012 at 9:27am

I can really recommend the "Shanghai Lounge Divas". These CDs are compilations of 1930s/1940s chinese swing music. In the albums there are always two CDs: The remixes (which are really cool) and a CD with the original versions (which are sometimes even cooler). The CDs are available for example at Amazon. (I'm currently at work, and Amazon is one of the not allowed websites here, so I can't post a link now...)

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Permalink Reply by Komissar Hass on February 15, 2012 at 9:36am

I will definitely try to find these, sounds very interesting.

Dr. Zarkov said:

I can really recommend the "Shanghai Lounge Divas". These CDs are compilations of 1930s/1940s chinese swing music. In the albums there are always two CDs: The remixes (which are really cool) and a CD with the original versions (which are sometimes even cooler). The CDs are available for example at Amazon. (I'm currently at work, and Amazon is one of the not allowed websites here, so I can't post a link now...)

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Zarkov on February 19, 2012 at 2:14am

I found some of the original sounds at Youtube, here are some examples:

http://youtu.be/eYvlqNLXA90

(No the original is not by Frankie Laine, this one is the original, Frankie did a cover!)

Or this one:

http://youtu.be/ahUr1fF7ISo

Here you can listen to some samples of the modernised versions:

http://www.amazon.com/Shanghai-Lounge-Divas-Various-Artists/dp/B000...

I see that I was just in time some years ago when I've bought the CDs for normal prices. They became ridiculous expensive now. Or is the price in Hongkong Dollars?