First and foremost, it was very refreshing to see the treatment of Asian-Americans in this film. There are no stereotypes or actors in yellow face, and the characters are articulate, sophisticated, and intelligent. The two main characters unraveling a smuggling/extortion racket (the fabulous Anna May Wong and Philip Ahn) are of Asian descent but the parts could have been written as Caucasians. Meanwhile it's a group of white people who run this racket and brutally murder people. It's no wonder that Wong was so happy with this film, her first with Paramount, and said "I like my part in this picture better than any I've ever had before...This picture gives Chinese a break - we have sympathetic parts for a change."
Overall it's a B movie in terms of production value and the plot is simple, but it's certainly entertaining, there are moments of tension, and of course it also has Anna May Wong. She looks radiant while wearing a number of gowns, most of which she had purchased herself in China on her travels there the year before, which was a big event in her life. A great example of her acting ability is her facial reaction when she sees what's happened to her father in the film, and we also get to see her silky dance moves when her character goes undercover as a dancer in a tropical nightclub. I adore her and everything she fought for, and this film feels like a vindication of sorts, after the bitter pill of being passed over for 'The Good Earth.'
You can really feel the heat and seaminess of the environment her character finds herself in, and I thought director Robert Florey did a good job given the scale of the picture. Some of his camera angles and shots of things like people being dumped into the bay are quite good. The representation of women is strong too - aside from Wong, the kingpin of the crime organization is a tough woman played by Cecil Cunningham. You can also look for 22 year old Anthony Quinn as well. Quite enjoyable for me, and I wished it had gone on for longer than 62 minutes.
Quote: White nightclub patron, dismissive upon seeing Anna May Wong: "I don't speak Chinese." Anna May Wong: "I speak English."
Overall it's a B movie in terms of production value and the plot is simple, but it's certainly entertaining, there are moments of tension, and of course it also has Anna May Wong. She looks radiant while wearing a number of gowns, most of which she had purchased herself in China on her travels there the year before, which was a big event in her life. A great example of her acting ability is her facial reaction when she sees what's happened to her father in the film, and we also get to see her silky dance moves when her character goes undercover as a dancer in a tropical nightclub. I adore her and everything she fought for, and this film feels like a vindication of sorts, after the bitter pill of being passed over for 'The Good Earth.'
You can really feel the heat and seaminess of the environment her character finds herself in, and I thought director Robert Florey did a good job given the scale of the picture. Some of his camera angles and shots of things like people being dumped into the bay are quite good. The representation of women is strong too - aside from Wong, the kingpin of the crime organization is a tough woman played by Cecil Cunningham. You can also look for 22 year old Anthony Quinn as well. Quite enjoyable for me, and I wished it had gone on for longer than 62 minutes.
Quote: White nightclub patron, dismissive upon seeing Anna May Wong: "I don't speak Chinese." Anna May Wong: "I speak English."