Shanghai Surprise
Promotional Items
This section contains promotional items only - for the full narrative see the main entry within the VIDEOS tab
The primary collectable is, as always, the US press information pack. Once again housed in a nice glossy folder, it contains a hefty 25 page document consisting of 'The Performers and the Filmakers' and 'Notes About the Production' along with six promotional photos and a set of colour slides. Unlike the chaotic plethora of photos promoting 'Desperately Seeking Susan' the photos here are neatly numbered 'SS-1' to 'SS-6' which certainly assists with completing a collection!
If that all seems a little too easy for the collector there is also an additional set of ten promo photos, again following the same numbering system. The two sets can be distinguished by the information provided in the bottom right hand corner - the set of six contain an individual caption relating to that particular still, while the set of ten contains the same generic description namely the words '... star in "Shanghai Surprise," an action-packed motion picture adventure laced with romance and humour coming from MGM.'
The first five images from the press pack reappear among the set of ten. Only the last photo, a solo shot of Madonna, was not reprinted which makes it the most collectable as it only appears in this one set. However, an alternative solo shot of Madonna was included among the five new photos, all of which feature Madonna.
While most of the shots from both sets consist of stills from the movie, the final picture from the set of ten (SS-10) deserves a mention as it is a rare posed shot of the Penns along with the producer, George Harrison. It is said a picture can speak a thousand words and this photo clearly shows tensions; while Harrison appears to have tried but failed to raise a smile (note the frown lines!) Penn did not even make an attempt, staring insolently at the camera. Only Madonna appears unperturbed and unwrinkled, smiling sweetly!
In addition to the US pack, there are also UK promotional items, including a two-page synopsis with six uncredited photos, and a more substantive spiral bound booklet consisting of 25 pages of production notes and biographies. Perhaps because 'Handmade' was a UK-based company, Shanghai Surprise is the only Madonna movie with a notable UK promotional press pack.
There are also two other UK promo photos, the first issued by Channel 4 to promote a special programme on the filming of 'Shanghai Surprise', the second being a 5" x 7" colour image.
Promotional Items for Video Release
The rarest single promotional item is the 'Reel Video' a six minute-long promotional VHS video issued by Warners. This item is listed here under the 'video' section although it may have been issued to promote the movie at the time of it's cinematic release. This video has only been seen once, hence the valuation of £50 which was the price paid by the contributor.
For the collector who likes outsize memorabilia, there is also a very large standee for the video release which used the same image from the US cinema poster. The standee is shown along with a video in order to illustrate it's size.
The primary collectable is, as always, the US press information pack. Once again housed in a nice glossy folder, it contains a hefty 25 page document consisting of 'The Performers and the Filmakers' and 'Notes About the Production' along with six promotional photos and a set of colour slides. Unlike the chaotic plethora of photos promoting 'Desperately Seeking Susan' the photos here are neatly numbered 'SS-1' to 'SS-6' which certainly assists with completing a collection!
If that all seems a little too easy for the collector there is also an additional set of ten promo photos, again following the same numbering system. The two sets can be distinguished by the information provided in the bottom right hand corner - the set of six contain an individual caption relating to that particular still, while the set of ten contains the same generic description namely the words '... star in "Shanghai Surprise," an action-packed motion picture adventure laced with romance and humour coming from MGM.'
The first five images from the press pack reappear among the set of ten. Only the last photo, a solo shot of Madonna, was not reprinted which makes it the most collectable as it only appears in this one set. However, an alternative solo shot of Madonna was included among the five new photos, all of which feature Madonna.
While most of the shots from both sets consist of stills from the movie, the final picture from the set of ten (SS-10) deserves a mention as it is a rare posed shot of the Penns along with the producer, George Harrison. It is said a picture can speak a thousand words and this photo clearly shows tensions; while Harrison appears to have tried but failed to raise a smile (note the frown lines!) Penn did not even make an attempt, staring insolently at the camera. Only Madonna appears unperturbed and unwrinkled, smiling sweetly!
In addition to the US pack, there are also UK promotional items, including a two-page synopsis with six uncredited photos, and a more substantive spiral bound booklet consisting of 25 pages of production notes and biographies. Perhaps because 'Handmade' was a UK-based company, Shanghai Surprise is the only Madonna movie with a notable UK promotional press pack.
There are also two other UK promo photos, the first issued by Channel 4 to promote a special programme on the filming of 'Shanghai Surprise', the second being a 5" x 7" colour image.
Promotional Items for Video Release
The rarest single promotional item is the 'Reel Video' a six minute-long promotional VHS video issued by Warners. This item is listed here under the 'video' section although it may have been issued to promote the movie at the time of it's cinematic release. This video has only been seen once, hence the valuation of £50 which was the price paid by the contributor.
For the collector who likes outsize memorabilia, there is also a very large standee for the video release which used the same image from the US cinema poster. The standee is shown along with a video in order to illustrate it's size.
US Press Pack: with production notes and 6 promo photos with customised information
Set of eleven promotional slides from the US press pack
Additional US Promo Photos: set of 10 photos with generic information
UK Synopsis and six promotional photos
UK spiral bound production book and eight promotional photos
Additional UK Promo Photos: Channel 4 Documentary / Colour Photo
Promotional Poster: UK Cinema Release
Standee for Cinema Release (shown with a video for size illustration)
Promotional Advert for Cinema Release
Promotional Items for UK Video Release
Reel Video with unique custom label
Poster
Video Sample Sleeve
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© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013
