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MarkUK
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  • Register:2009-11-12 09:24:59

Date Posted:2023-02-04 12:40:31Copy HTML

Shula, as your icon is of Clara Bow I'm designating you as our silent film expert.

I've just watched the DVD of the 1929 British silent film Piccadilly starring the Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong. Piccadilly was the only film for which my favourite author Arnold Bennett wrote the screenplay and is regarded as GB's last great silent. 

Wong was born in Los Angeles in 1906 and became fairly well known in Holywood in the early 20s. However typecasting and a failure to get bigger roles compelled her to seek stardom in Europe, firstly in Germany then GB, it was here that she became a big name and returned to the USA in 1930.

So, just how big a name is she over there? She died in 1961 and has been described as America's first great Chinese-American star.

A film is being made over here about her life starring Gemma Chan as Anna May Wong.

Anna May Wong and Gemma Chan.

Gemma Chan To Play Anna May Wong in Biopic | Hypebae 

You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning. Arnold Bennett
tommytalldog Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #1
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-04 04:48:12Copy HTML

And all these years I thought it was Betty Boop.
MarkUK Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #2
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-04 09:34:04Copy HTML

I usually value your contributions, but on this occasion less so.

You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning. Arnold Bennett
shula Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #3
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-06 01:29:14Copy HTML

I'm not too familiar with Anna May Wong except for her role as Tiger Lily in Peter Pan.  We used to have a movie channel that showed silent movies all the time but we don't have it anymore, so I've probably seen her in other movies but don't remember.  She was a lovely actress.
"It is forbidden to spit on cats in plague-time." -Albert Camus-
MarkUK Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #4
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-06 09:13:49Copy HTML

Piccadilly is pretty good if you're into silent films. The modern tinkly soundtrack is distracting and of course you have to pay full attention to keep up with the plot through the speech captions. 

After the film's success Bennett published a novel of the same name, which was unusual, normally the book comes first then the film. 

You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning. Arnold Bennett
shula Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #5
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-07 01:53:04Copy HTML

I love silent films.  They required a lot more acting talent.  Charlie Chaplin was a master.  And who doesn't love the Keystone Cops.
"It is forbidden to spit on cats in plague-time." -Albert Camus-
MarkUK Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #6
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-07 08:39:14Copy HTML

Try Piccadilly, the British silent film industry is largely neglected in favour of Holywood.

You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning. Arnold Bennett
shula Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #7
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-08 03:45:27Copy HTML

I can view the entire film on YouTube.  This will be a treat.
"It is forbidden to spit on cats in plague-time." -Albert Camus-
majorshrapnel Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #8
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-08 08:04:43Copy HTML

Her brother fought for Japan as a kamikaze pilot under the name Chow Mien. He survived the war because he was Chicken Chow Mien.
tommytalldog Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #9
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-08 08:08:33Copy HTML

Her brother fought for Japan as a kamikaze pilot under the name Chow Mien. He survived the war because he was Chicken Chow Mien.

You should start a lame joke category, Art. 


I got a new job offer washing windows. I can see myself doing that. 

majorshrapnel Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #10
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-08 08:09:23Copy HTML

I can view the entire film on YouTube.  This will be a treat.


If you want to watch a fabulous early classic comedy, try 'The Lady Killers' starring Alex Guiness, Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers. It's a masterpiece of cinema.

majorshrapnel Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #11
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-02-08 08:18:21Copy HTML

Her brother fought for Japan as a kamikaze pilot under the name Chow Mien. He survived the war because he was Chicken Chow Mien.

You should start a lame joke category, Art. 


I got a new job offer washing windows. I can see myself doing that. 


Why did the pervert cross the road? Because he was stuck up a chicken

pbandrew3rd Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #12
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-06-05 04:54:07Copy HTML

Piccadilly is pretty good if you're into silent films. The modern tinkly soundtrack is distracting and of course you have to pay full attention to keep up with the plot through the speech captions. 

After the film's success Bennett published a novel of the same name, which was unusual, normally the book comes first then the film. 


Will ask you both Shula and Mark because of the time frame she was best known for, was she a flapper meaning did she ever dress on or off screen like one? For the ones that don't know a flapper is, it's a female who was in considered to be in the  style clothes of the time. It's mostly the hat that is the give away. I think Tommy wears one when he drives around town in his Stang.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFor other uses, see Flapper (disambiguation).Actress Louise Brooks (1927)A flapper on board a ship (1929)

MarkUK Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #13
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-06-05 07:25:04Copy HTML

On screen she was typecast as typical Chinese, so wore "traditional" Chinese dress. Off screen I assume she dressed like a star. 

You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning. Arnold Bennett
pbandrew3rd Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #14
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-06-05 12:26:43Copy HTML

On screen she was typecast as typical Chinese, so wore "traditional" Chinese dress. Off screen I assume she dressed like a star. 


The Untold Story of Asian Americans in Early Hollywood – Pacific Citizen  This answers my question. The tie and hat are the giveaways.

majorshrapnel Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #15
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Re:Anna May Wong

Date Posted:2023-06-05 12:46:03Copy HTML

Her brother fought for Japan as a kamikaze pilot under the name Chow Mien. He survived the war because he was Chicken Chow Mien.

You should start a lame joke category, Art. 


I got a new job offer washing windows. I can see myself doing that. 


There were two cannibals eating a clown and one said to the other.... does this taste funny to you?

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