Shanghai Surprise

Top 10 Fun Facts

1. Shanghai Surprise never actually had a soundtrack released, but George Harrison fixed that in 2004. He released the re-mastered songs originally written for the film on his album "Cloud Nine."
2. Actor Paul Freeman was a last minute casting decision when Bernard Hill was fired early in production of Shanghai Surprise. The firing didn't seem to hurt Hill's career since he went on to star in such films as the Lord of the Rings Trilogies. Freeman can also be spotted in Hot Fuzz.
3. Madonna plays a missionary nurse in the 1986 film Shanghai Surprise. Some might say a stretch but her character was no Florence Nightingale, instead she was on the hunt for drugs - opium to be exact.
4. Not only did George Harrison write the music for Shanghai Surprise, but he also produced the film and had a cameo as a night club singer. Talk about a multi-tasker.
5. One of composer Richard Strauss' "Four Last Songs" was featured throughout Shanghai Surprise. Although lovely song choices, there was one problem. The songs were written in 1948. The film was set in 1937.
6. Watch closely actor Paul Freeman's face in the scene in Shanghai Surprise where Sean Penn and Madonna confront the ship's captain in his cabin. As each shot changes, so does the amount of shaving cream on the actor's face but he doesn't touch his face once. Nor does Penn or Madonna.
7. Although both films involved drugs, Sean Penn received a better high filming the classic teen flick Fast Times at Ridegmont High than Shang-high Surprise, both career-wise and otherwise.
8. Shanghai Surprise starred newlyweds Madonna and Sean Penn. The Honeymoon did not last long and the couple divorced a mere three years after the film's release.
9. Shanghai Surprise was panned by critics and was a box office flop. Madonna's performance was a particular standout and was awarded a Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress.
10. According to Urban Dictionary, a "Shanghai Surprise" refers to going home with a casual sex buddy only get a "surprise," ...that they are not the gender you thought. A Singapore Sling is...a drink.

Cast

Crew