Search - Lady From Chunking on DVD

Propaganda Flick Features Wong's Talent

Miguel B. Llora | Bay Point, California USA | 06/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lady from Chungking and Bombs over Burma both starred Anna May Wong; predictably both were made by the same production company at about the same point in the war. Both came at a time when the Japanese (guilty by association - the Japanese Americans) became the enemy (the "Other") and with equal vigor all the rest of the Asians - particularly the Chinese Americans saw a change of heart - we are now all allies. This adds credence to the old adage that "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." This is an effective and low budget wartime drama. Anna May Wong's has that special something that adds a bit of magic. The story has Wong as the leader of a resistance group (but this time in the fields (undercover since she is THE Lady from Chungking) to the Japanese invaders in China. Anna May Wong is once again nothing short of stellar. She does however get lots of assistance from her supporting crew. Mae Clarke is hot as "Times Square." The core of Orientalism is seen in the Japanese general with whom Wong's character must outsmart. Harold Huber is miscast for the role. However, for the purposes of the movie he is perfect as the greedy yet short-sighted, egotistical but foolish Japanese general we have been racialized to believe. In this movie, unlike Bombs over Burma, Wong gets to explore her range. At certain times in the movie she is this meek subject of the occupiers, at other instances she is this tough as nails leader of the underground ready to sacrifice everything... and I mean "everything." Despite taking the risk of falling prey to this form of Orientalism may is decked out and looks hot and elegant as the Lady from Chungking - I would fall for her. General Kaimura did not stand a chance. Anna May Wong might be better remembered for high budget productions like The Thief of Bagdad but it is great to see her in this propaganda flick that make available examples of her wide range of talents.



Miguel Llora"

Anna May Wong stars again

Joseph M. Seda | 06/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Obviously low budget and a war propaganda film but many merits and the stellar performance of Anna May Wong as the Chinese aristocrat battling the brutal Japanese invaders. Good in telling the conditions in China under the Japanese."