Shadows Over Shanghai

Shadows Over Shanghai

Year: 1938

Runtime: 66 mins

Language: English

Director: Charles Lamont

Drama

Gambling with death… for a $5,000,000 stake! A pilot carrying a valuable amulet is shot down over China by a ruthless Russian agent, who also wants the amulet.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Shadows Over Shanghai (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Shadows Over Shanghai (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1937-1938

Set during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the film shows Shanghai bombings and hurried evacuations of foreigners. It references an embargo on government shipments to nations at war, shaping the characters' choices and plans. The period’s tension drives the urgency and danger throughout.

Location

Shanghai, China, San Francisco, USA

Shanghai is depicted as a crowded wartime hub where foreign residents cluster in the international settlement amid air raids. The city’s harbor, hotels, and orphanage create a perilous maze as rival operatives chase the valuable amulet. The evacuation to San Francisco frames the story as a transpacific espionage drama during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

🌆 Urban center 🗺️ International zone 🚢 Port city

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:09

Main Characters – Shadows Over Shanghai (1938)

Meet the key characters of Shadows Over Shanghai (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Irene Roma (Lynda Grey)

A determined teacher who becomes the keeper of the amulet’s halves. She navigates a treacherous landscape of spies and danger, seeking safe passage to San Francisco. Her courage and pragmatism drive her interactions with Johnny, Barclay, and Sargoza as the plot detonates around them.

🎯 Determined 🧭 Resourceful 👩 Protagonist

Peter Roma (Edward Woods)

A wounded biplane pilot who entrusts Irene with the amulet’s half and a hope for aid. He hopes for a safe passage to San Francisco before his time runs out. His urgency and sense of duty set the stakes for the group’s escape.

🛩️ Pilot 🩹 Wounded 🗝️ Amulet Keeper

Igor Sargoza (Robert Barrat)

A ruthless Russian agent relentlessly pursuing the amulet and the funds it unlocks. His pursuit escalates danger and forces quick decisions from Irene, Johnny, and Barclay. He meets his end when the incense burner explodes, taking him with it.

🗡️ Villain 🧭 Pursuer

Johnny McGinty (James Dunn)

An Irish-American photojournalist who becomes Irene’s ally and reluctant participant in a marriage plan. He agrees to the marriage scheme to help Irene, forming a bond that tests his loyalties amid espionage.

📷 Journalist 🤝 Ally

Howard Barclay (Ralph Morgan)

A friend of Johnny who sets the marriage plan in motion and is revealed as a Chinese agent empowered to purchase munitions. His hidden agenda complicated the group’s escape and exposes the web of intrigue surrounding the funds.

🕵️‍♂️ Ally 🗺️ Double-dealer

Fuji Yokohama (Paul Sutton)

The Japanese agent who intercepts the gift and drives a dangerous sequence of events. He manipulates the group and exposes Barclay’s concealed role, culminating in a tense showdown aboard the evacuation ship.

🕵️‍♂️ Spy 🧨 Interceptor

Lun Sat Li (Chester Gan)

Friend of Johnny who sends a Mandarin incense burner as a gift. His arrangement triggers the trap that leads to Sargoza’s confrontation and the dramatic rescue sequence.

🎁 Messenger 🔗 Connector

Wu Chang (Victor Wong)

A minister who performs the marriage ceremony, enabling Irene to travel under Johnny’s passport. He serves as a calm mediator amid a maelstrom of deceit and danger.

👔 Clergy 🕊️ Mediator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:09

Major Themes – Shadows Over Shanghai (1938)

Explore the central themes of Shadows Over Shanghai (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Espionage

Spies, double-crosses, and a split amulet propel the plot across Shanghai and the sea. Groups with conflicting aims manipulate events, while alliances shift under pressure. The hunt for the amulet reveals loyalties and betrayals that threaten everyone’s survival.

💍 Marriage of convenience

A faux marriage is proposed to secure Irene’s passport and survival. Personal bonds are formed under political pressure, testing trust as plans and motives collide. The eventual shift toward real commitment emerges from the danger they endure together.

💥 War and danger

Bombers strike Shanghai, plunging the city into chaos. The characters improvise to escape and protect the amulet, fearing pursuit at every turn. The siege atmosphere heightens the stakes and accelerates the escape to the evacuation ship.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:09

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Unlock the Full Story of Shadows Over Shanghai

Don't stop at just watching — explore Shadows Over Shanghai in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Shadows Over Shanghai is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Shadows Over Shanghai Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Shadows Over Shanghai, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Shadows Over Shanghai Summary

Shadows Over Shanghai Timeline

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Shadows Over Shanghai Timeline

More About Shadows Over Shanghai

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More About Shadows Over Shanghai

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