Shanghai Surprise

Year: 1986

Runtime: 97 min

Language: English

Director: Jim Goddard

Budget: $17M

AdventureDramaComedyRomanceCrime

During the 1930s in Shanghai, Glendon Wasey, a skilled con artist, joins forces with the captivating nurse Gloria Tatlock. They become entangled in a dangerous scheme involving a stolen supply of opium, forcing them to maneuver through the city’s complex underworld. Facing ruthless gangsters, cunning smugglers, and dangerous thugs, they must use their wits to secure the valuable drug and survive the perilous game they've entered.

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Timeline & Setting – Shanghai Surprise (1986)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Shanghai Surprise (1986). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:50

Main Characters – Shanghai Surprise (1986)

Meet the key characters of Shanghai Surprise (1986), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:50

Major Themes – Shanghai Surprise (1986)

Explore the central themes of Shanghai Surprise (1986), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:50

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Criminal Duo Movies like Shanghai Surprise

Unlikely partners form a dangerous pact to survive and score in a treacherous world.Films featuring improvised alliances and dangerous partnerships in the criminal underworld. If you liked the tense dynamic between the con artist and nurse in Shanghai Surprise, you'll enjoy these stories of unlikely partners navigating high-stakes heists, betrayals, and love under pressure.

dangerouswittyromanticdeceptivetreacherousimprovised

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a pair of mismatched characters thrown together by circumstance, often a high-stakes criminal endeavor. Their journey is a balancing act of deception and trust, as they must rely on each other's unique skills to outwit more powerful and dangerous foes, with their relationship evolving from a transaction to something more personal.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core focus on the chemistry and tension between two central characters navigating a perilous world. They blend crime thriller elements with a budding romantic or platonic connection, creating a dynamic where personal stakes are as high as the criminal ones, all driven by a fast-paced plot.

Exotic Adventure Thrillers like Shanghai Surprise

A frantic race for a valuable prize through the dangerous, vibrant streets of a historical city.Movies about high-stakes chases for valuable objects in historical and exotic locales. If you enjoyed the hunt for opium in 1930s Shanghai, you'll like these fast-paced stories where the setting is key and characters are swept into a world of danger and intrigue.

anxiousgrittydangerousexoticfranticdeceptive

Narrative Summary

The plot is a straightforward quest driven by a singular goal: find the prize before the villains do. The complexity comes from the web of deceptions and the hostile environment. The narrative is propelled by a series of close calls, double-crosses, and narrow escapes, creating a rollercoaster ride through a unique world.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that prioritize a sense of adventurous escapism through a specific time and place. They share a fast pace, a medium level of narrative complexity, and a tense, gritty atmosphere where the thrill of the chase and the allure of the setting are central to the experience.

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Shanghai Surprise Summary

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Shanghai Surprise Timeline

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Shanghai Surprise Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Shanghai Surprise

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Shanghai Surprise: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Discover movies like Shanghai Surprise that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.