West of Shanghai

West of Shanghai

Year: 1937

Runtime: 64 mins

Language: English

Director: John Farrow

AdventureWarDrama

He’ll kill you on a moment’s notice! American businessmen and missionaries working in China are captured and held prisoner by a local warlord.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – West of Shanghai (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of West of Shanghai (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The events take place in a era of regional warlords in China, with foreign business interests surrounding valuable oilfields. The atmosphere reflects pre-World War II tensions in the region, where lawless zones and shifting loyalties drive decisions and violence.

Location

Northern China, remote town, train

Set against a train ride into lawless northern China, the story leans into a remote provincial town under warlord rule. The journey juxtaposes claustrophobic carriage scenes with wide, unsettled frontier landscapes. Oil interests and political power collide as multiple factions maneuver for advantage.

🗺️ Northern China 🚂 Train journey 🏭 Oilfield

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:42

Main Characters – West of Shanghai (1937)

Meet the key characters of West of Shanghai (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

General Wu Yen Fang (Boris Karloff)

A ruthless warlord who has taken control of a province, Fang manipulates events to advance his interests. He orchestrates schemes that intertwine money, power, and coercion, and even tries to win over Jane with promises. His actions drive the central conflict and the violence that follows.

⚔️ Warlord 🧭 Manipulation 🗡️ Power

Gordon Creed (Ricardo Cortez)

A calculating businessman on the train who seeks to broker deals and pay off his loan from Galt. He maneuvers to outmaneuver rivals, but the web of schemes pulls him deeper into Fang's schemes and danger.

💼 Negotiator 💰 Money ⚖️ Manipulation

Lola Galt (Sheila Bromley)

The attractive daughter of Myron Galt, traveling with her father. Her presence underscores the personal and romantic undercurrents in the story, and she becomes a catalyst for relationships and tensions aboard the journey.

💖 Attraction 🧭 Social tension 🚂 Travel

Jim Hallet (Gordon Oliver)

An oilman whose loan becomes a focal point for others’ schemes. He becomes entangled in the romance between Jane and himself, and in the larger battle over the fate of the oilfield.

🛢️ Oilman 💔 Romantic entanglement ⚔️ Conflict

Myron Galt (Douglas Wood)

A businessman intent on foreclosing the promising oilfield, driving the financial stakes of the plot. His interests intersect with Creed’s aims and Fang’s machinations, shaping the economic pressures at play.

💼 Finance 🤑 Stakes ⚔️ Rivalry

Jane Creed (Beverly Roberts)

Creed's estranged wife who works for Dr. Abernathy. She is torn between her duty to Creed and her growing feelings for Hallet, illustrating the personal conflict within a city under siege.

💑 Love 🧭 Duty 🕊️ Loyalty

Captain Nui (Chester Gan)

Fang's subordinate who seeks to regain face by aligning with the warlord’s interests. His ambitions lead him into conflict with Fang's plans and the town’s fate.

🪖 Military 👤 Status ⚔️ Conflict

Mr. Cheng (Richard Loo)

Fang's right-hand man, carrying out orders with ruthless efficiency. He plays a decisive role in eliminating rivals to secure Fang's hold on the town.

🤝 Loyalty 🗡️ Assassination 🗺️ Strategy

Dr. Abernathy (Gordon Hart)

A missionary doctor who serves as a mediator in the conflict. He becomes a focal point for offers and incentives from Fang and others, reflecting the humanitarian tension amid war.

🏥 Medicine 🕊️ Ethics 🧭 Diplomacy

General Ma (Tetsu Komai)

The military governor who questions Creed and others, guiding interactions that steer the group toward conflicts or resolutions in the provincial chaos.

🗺️ Authority ⚖️ Governance 🧭 Strategy

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:42

Major Themes – West of Shanghai (1937)

Explore the central themes of West of Shanghai (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Power

A warlord-driven power struggle forms the backbone of the plot, with Fang's rise shaping who controls the province and its oil assets. Alliances are forged and fractured as money, force, and influence determine outcomes.

🔪 Betrayal

Betrayal threads through the narrative as plots pivot on bribery, assassinations, and sudden reversals. Nui is maneuvered to rebel and later is removed, while Cheng enforces Fang's grip through decisive action.

💔 Love & Duty

Romantic tensions test personal loyalties amid war and intrigue. Jane Creed is torn between her marriage to Creed and her growing connection with Hallet, highlighting how intimate loyalties clash with larger political games.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:42

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West of Shanghai Summary

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West of Shanghai Summary

West of Shanghai Timeline

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West of Shanghai Timeline

More About West of Shanghai

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