In today’s installment of Art Deco Hollywood, we bring you the incredible style and grace of 1920s icon Anna May Wong.
A beauty and talent by any standard, she was also the first Chinese American movie star, making her way in Hollywood (and internationally) in a world where she faced constant typecasting and discrimination, where she was prevented from becoming a true leading lady by the anti-miscegenation laws that prevented her from sharing an on-screen kiss with any non-Asian actor.
Tired of being both typecast and being passed over for lead Asian character roles in favor of non-Asian actresses, Wong left Hollywood in 1928 for Europe. Interviewed by Doris Mackie for Film Weekly in 1933, Wong complained about her Hollywood roles: “I was so tired of the parts I had to play.” She commented: “There seems little for me in Hollywood, because, rather than real Chinese, producers prefer Hungarians, Mexicans, American Indians for Chinese roles.
In Europe, Wong became a sensation, starring in notable films such as Schmutziges Geld (aka Song and Show Life, 1928) and Großstadtschmetterling (Pavement Butterfly). Of the German critics’ response to Song, The New York Times reported that Wong was “acclaimed not only as an actress of transcendent talent but as a great beauty”.
One more Anna fact (one that delighted me especially): in the mid 1930s her friend/admirer/lover, writer Eric Maschwitz, penned the words to the classic standard “These Foolish Things” after having to leave her in Hollywood and return to England. It’s one of my favorite songs, and a lovely tribute to an incredible woman.
You can, of course, see more details about her work at IMDB, or check out one of the books that has been written about her life and career.
One of the best parts of planning a wedding (any wedding) is choosing the music. But if you’re going for a truly vintage-inspired event, the world is your oyster, with so many incredible songs to choose from. Today we’re going to focus on one of the best songwriters of any era, with a perfect collection …
Well, the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s long-awaited (or long-dreaded, depending on your tastes…) version of The Great Gatsby is here! That is… well, it is interesting. Interestingly scored, interestingly cast… there will certainly be lots to look at, style-wise. The Great Gatsby is a perennial favorite for vintage-wedding inspiration, and there is certainly a lot …
Easy to forget, a century later, how influential the art around Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis was (and is). So much incredible, inspirational art deco/modernist art sprang up around it. The fonts! The design! The posters! To be fair, that futurist look might be a little dark for some weddings (unless they are dystopian or …
We posted a while back about the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby film, but its release was then delayed by months and months…. But the time is upon us now! The movie comes out this weekend, and while feelings on it may be mixed, there’s one thing we can all agree on… Tiffany …
Anna May Wong | Art Deco Hollywood
A beauty and talent by any standard, she was also the first Chinese American movie star, making her way in Hollywood (and internationally) in a world where she faced constant typecasting and discrimination, where she was prevented from becoming a true leading lady by the anti-miscegenation laws that prevented her from sharing an on-screen kiss with any non-Asian actor.
Tired of being both typecast and being passed over for lead Asian character roles in favor of non-Asian actresses, Wong left Hollywood in 1928 for Europe. Interviewed by Doris Mackie for Film Weekly in 1933, Wong complained about her Hollywood roles: “I was so tired of the parts I had to play.” She commented: “There seems little for me in Hollywood, because, rather than real Chinese, producers prefer Hungarians, Mexicans, American Indians for Chinese roles.
In Europe, Wong became a sensation, starring in notable films such as Schmutziges Geld (aka Song and Show Life, 1928) and Großstadtschmetterling (Pavement Butterfly). Of the German critics’ response to Song, The New York Times reported that Wong was “acclaimed not only as an actress of transcendent talent but as a great beauty”.
One more Anna fact (one that delighted me especially): in the mid 1930s her friend/admirer/lover, writer Eric Maschwitz, penned the words to the classic standard “These Foolish Things” after having to leave her in Hollywood and return to England. It’s one of my favorite songs, and a lovely tribute to an incredible woman.
You can, of course, see more details about her work at IMDB, or check out one of the books that has been written about her life and career.
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