Moscow–Shanghai
1936 · Germany
- Director
- Paul Wegener
- Screenplay
- Max W. Kimmich, Kurt Heynicke
- Producer
- Vasgen Badal
- Music
- Hans-Otto Borgmann
- Cinematography
- Franz Weihmayr
- Editing
- Munni Obal
Cast
What it is about
A drama set along the route linking Moscow and Shanghai, following Olga Petrowna, Serge Smirnow and Maria, characters caught up in flight, refugees and the military conflicts of the period. The story alternates scenes of travel with episodes in several cities, without settling on a single location.
How it was made
Directed by Paul Wegener in what was his last film as a director, the picture was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin. Alfred Bütow and Willi Herrmann designed the sets. Max W. Kimmich and Kurt Heynicke wrote the screenplay, with cinematography by Franz Weihmayr, music by Hans-Otto Borgmann and editing by Munni Obal. Pola Negri, Gustav Diessl and Susi Lanner lead the cast.
Reception and legacy
Documentation on its critical reception and awards is limited, so its place in film history is best understood as the closing chapter of Wegener's career and as one of the German productions of the mid-1930s featuring Pola Negri.
Trivia
A Cossack choir
Serge Jaroff, conductor of the Don Cossack Choir, appears in the cast as the choral conductor.
A final directing credit
Moscow–Shanghai was the last film Paul Wegener directed.
More films by Paul Wegener
The Golem: How He Came into the World
The Student of Prague
The Golem
The Golem and the Dancing Girl
Rübezahl's Wedding
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.