Free Screening of "Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words"

Date: Friday, November 18, 2011

Time: 8:00PM - 9:30PM
Where: Center for Remembering & Sharing, 123 4th Avenue @12 Street, NYC

CRS (Center for Remembering & Sharing) presents “Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words,” a one-hour documentary by mutli-award-winning writer/director Yunah Hong. Ms. Hong will be present to introduce the film, discuss her efforts to get it aired on public television, and take questions from the audience following the screening. 

Screen legend Anna May Wong (1905-1961) was the first Chinese American movie star. She grew up in L.A., daughter of a laundryman, yet she courageously chose a life that was a radical departure from familial and cultural expectations. Her story is one of resistance—of pushing back against close-mindedness and claiming space. This she did with enough glamour, style and humor to hold her own with the greatest stars of her day. She is a great role model and inspiration to artists struggling against racism and stereotypes even today.

She first starred, at age 17, in "Toll of the Sea," a silent version of Madame Butterfly. Her best-remembered film is "Shanghai Express" with Marlene Dietrich. She made dozens of films in Hollywood, London and Berlin. She was glamorous; photographers flocked to take her portrait. She was worldly and articulate, with friends like Carl van Vechten, Evelyn Waugh and Paul Robeson. Yet she spent most of her career typecast either as a painted doll or a scheming Dragon Lady.

Director: Yunah Hong
Executive Producer: William Smock
Producer: William Smock
Cinematographer: Eric Lin, Liam Dalzell

Watch the trailer:

Further reading on Center For Remembering and Sharing.