West of Shanghai
Theatrical Release Poster
West of Shanghai John Farrow and adapted from 1920 theatrical play "The Bad Man" by Porter Emerson Browne. The plot is set in 1930s China, torn apart by the battles of warlords. A group of Americans travel to a remote town in Northern China. The goal of the competing businessmen Gordon Creed (Ricardo Cortez ) and Myron Galt (Douglas Wood) is a promising oilfield built up by Jim Hallet (Gordon Oliver). Creed also wants to see his estranged wife Jane (Beverly Roberts) who is working in the missionary hospital. Meanwhile the town is taken over by the troops of self-proclaimed General Wu Yen Fang (Boris Karloff ).
The film is the third of four screen adaptations of the original play. The plots of three other films, all titled The Bad Man (1923, 1930 and 1941), are set in Mexico during the era of Pancho Villa.
The following weapons were used in the film West of Shanghai :
Handguns Luger P08 "Marine" General Wu Yen Fang (Boris Karloff ) and his bodyguard Mr. Cheng (Richard Loo ) carry Luger P08 "Marine" pistols.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 "Marine" model - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cheng stops Creed from entering in General's room. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fang's pistol in holster on the table. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jane Creed (Beverly Roberts) draws the pistol from the holster. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Strangely, in this scene a different Luger is used. It has a short but doubtless sawed-off barrel, without the muzzle ring and the front sight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing When Jane aims at Fang, the pistol is again a "Marine" model with 6" barrel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jane holds the pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fang aims at Gordon Creed. Error creating thumbnail: File missing When the pistol fires, the jointed arm doesn't move, revealling the muzzle flash being pyrotechnic effect. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cheng fires his pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fang fires his pistol. Colt Model 1903/1908 In the final scene Gordon Creed (Ricardo Cortez ) holds a Colt Model 1903/1908 pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Blued - .32 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gordon Creed aims a pistol at Jim Hallet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gordon Creed (Ricardo Cortez ) holds the pistol on a promotional image. Unidentified revolvers Revolvers of unclear models are seen in hands of Jim Hallet (Gordon Oliver) and Fang's officer Captain Kung Nui (Chester Gan).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Capt. Kung Hui raises his revolver on Jim Hallet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jim Hallet holds a revolver in the night scene. Judging by the shape of the frame, this is possibly a Smith & Wesson Military & Police . Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jim is captured by Fang's soldiers. Rifles Springfield 1873 "Trapdoor" Carbine Most of General Fang's soldiers are armed with Springfield 1873 "Trapdoor" Carbines (too antique guns for 1930s, even in China).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing First year Model 1873 Springfield Trapdoor - 45/70 Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier at the left holds a Trapdoor carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldiers drag the unconscious Jim Hallet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soldiers capture Jim and his manservant when they try to escape. The Trapdoor carbine is seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soldiers with Trapdoor carbines. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A sentry on the wall holds a Trapdoor carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fang's soldiers retreat from the town gates under the attack of General Ma's troops. Trapdoor Springfield Rifle General Ma's soldiers are armed with full-length rifles that are seen mostly in distance. Those guns that are seen more or less clear are supposed to be Trapdoor Springfield Rifles .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Springfield Trapdoor 1879 - .45-70. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier at the left holds a full-length rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A sentry with a full-length rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gen. Ma's cavalrymen are mostly armed with full-length rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Trapdoor lock is seen on the rifle of a cavalryman at the left. 
