Cinecultist loves those Asian chicks and the release of a new biography and coinciding retrospective at MOMA of one of cinema's original H.A.C.s Anna May Wong will further expand our historical understanding of these loverly creatures. Anna May, born in San Francisco's Chinatown and involved in moviemaking at an early age, was the Dragon Lady launching a thousand stereotypes of sexy femme fatales. While some have argued that Anna May set back the image of Asian women, this new historical interest in her work wants to revitalize her importance in early cinema.
Author Graham Hodges of From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend: Anna May Wong will be facilitating an in-depth multimedia presentation and answering questions on Anna May Wong, with book signing and reception to follow today Jan. 21 at 6:30pm at the AsiaSociety,725 Park Ave at 70th St. $5 students; $7 Asia Society/MOMA members; $12 nonmembers. [An interesting article in the Times last weekend, although sadly to read it now on the Archives will cost you.]
From Jan. 22nd until Jan. 25th Hodges will be introducing the five films in the retrospective at MoMA. These pictures include The Toll of the Sea (1922), Hollywood Party (1937), Shanghai Express (1932), Picadilly (1929), and Dangerous to Know (1938). [thanks Fiona for the reminder!]
Also upcoming at MoMA, An Evening with Yang FuDong, a Chinese film artist whose work draws on "he decadent glamour of classic Chinese cinema and that of its stars, such as '30s actress Ruan Lingyu." Ruan Lingyu, isthe original H.A.C. and the subject of one of CC's favoritest films, Actress by Stanley Kwan, so we're definitely going to have to check out any work that references her. Hottness.
Posted by karen at January 21, 2004 8:34 AM