The Lady from Shanghai

1947 noir

Rating: 17/20

Plot: Michael O'Hara pretends to be an Irish American to fulfill his ultimate desire--getting Rita Hayworth in a funhouse so that he can trick himself into thinking there are hundreds of Rita Hayworths and have the ultimate orgasmic experience. Oh, the mess those carnival workers are up against!

Another Orson Welles' movie I like more than the more highly-regarded Citizen Kane and Ambersons. Much is made of the brilliant[ly goofy] funhouse scene, but this whole thing is shot with an ease and genius that makes every single scene great to watch. The performances are terrific, especially if you can ignore Orson's silly accent and too-pretty face, and that Rita Hayworth sure was easy on the eyes. I really liked Glenn Anders' George Grisby, an overly-crazed performance displayed mostly in almost uncomfortable close-ups. This whole thing has this awkward profundity, exceptionally well written and literary, but obviously pretty tongue-in-cheek. I laugh every time I think about Welles' delivery of "Well, I came to. . .in the crazy house!" and the beyond-nutty courtroom scene (more ludicrous than A Place in the Sun's, I'll admit) is almost hilarious.