Baffling murders, fascinating plot twists and remarkable camera work all contribute to this spellbinding, time-honored film noir written, directed by and starring Orson Welles (Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil). Hired to work on a yacht belonging to the disabled husband of femme fatale Rita Hayworth (Gilda, Separate Tables), Welles plays an innocent man drawn into a dangerous web of intrigue and murder. The subject of great controversy and scandal upon its initial release, The Lady from Shanghai shocked 1948 audiences by presenting Hayworth with her flaming red hair cut short and dyed champagne blonde. Decades later, The Lady from Shanghai is considered vintage Welles, his famous hall of mirrors climax hailed as one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history.
For thoughts on The Lady From Shanghai, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
The Lady From Shanghai comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment with a 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer restored from the Original Camera Negative that looks incredible. This film was most recently released on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics from presumably the same base source, and that release looked pretty great. This 4K UHD upgrade does not have an accompanying Blu-Ray, so it may be worth hanging onto that disc if you own it for convenience in format and some additional special features. We can say with the utmost certainty that this new 4K UHD disc maximizes the potential of the source.
The new transfer shows off a tremendous amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. Contrast is crisply defined with virtually no instances of flicker or density fluctuation in the print. Black levels are deep with no occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. There is a sumptuous amount of texture on the clothing and within the production design. Nicks and scratches have almost been eradicated completely, but you may still spot a spots or two inherent to the source. The natural film grain remains intact within the gorgeous black-and-white photography. Sony has made this one shine as bright as the photography desires.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a rock-solid DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track that delivers an admirable listening experience. This track shows almost no signs of age-related wear and tear. The track can sound the slightest bit thin when it comes to its musical heights, but even this is not as prominent as some older feature films. The music does not overwhelm the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are balanced well with all competing elements so that everything has a chance to shine. Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles are included for the feature film. Sony has delivered their typically excellent work.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: The late filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich provides an archival commentary track which is an embarrassment of riches as the filmmaker shares a different take on the film as someone who was very close to Orson Welles.
- A Conversation with Peter Bogdanovich: A 21-minute conversation with Bogdanovich from 2000 in which he discusses the career of Orson Welles leading up to The Lady From Shanghai, his relationship with Rita Hayworth, the casting of the ensemble, the cursed nature of the production, the butchered nature of the film and more.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for The Lady From Shanghai is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Lady From Shanghai is a flawed but intriguing film that succeeds even in spite of the studio interference. The film has some mismatched styles and intentions as a piece of art, but there is a core value to the film which makes it very rewarding. Welles is strong both in front of and behind the camera, but Hayworth is the knockout here alongside some of the more talented ensemble members. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that shows off a top-shelf A/V presentation and a nice collection of special features. If you are a fan of the film, be sure to snag this one. Recommended
The Lady From Shanghai can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
