Having seen The White Countess, I'm not at all surprised there's no thread anticipating same

Say what you will, Merchant Ivory films are usually fun. Maybe hollow, but usually confections that are sweet indulgences for an hour or so. The White Countess is a perplexing disappointment. Good actors, colorful backdrops, but finally soulless and empty.

Ultimately, The White Countess lacks a central conflict: the desire to open a Shanghai bar with just the right sort of taxi dancer is hardly a dream of greatness. But that’s all we have.