Chinatown Nights (1929)

Joan Fry, a society woman, falls in love with Chuck Riley, the white-leader of a powerful gang in Chinatown, and he quickly drags her down into the depths with him. But seeing her so much ... See full summary »

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Samuel Ornitz (story), Ben Grauman Kohn (scenario),

Stars:

Wallace Beery, Florence Vidor, Warner Oland

Cast

Cast overview:
Wallace Beery	...	Chuck Riley
Florence Vidor	...	Joan Fry
Warner Oland	...	Boston Charley
Jack McHugh	...	The Shadow
Jack Oakie	...	The Reporter

Storyline

Joan Fry, a society woman, falls in love with Chuck Riley, the white-leader of a powerful gang in Chinatown, and he quickly drags her down into the depths with him. But seeing her so much in love with him causes him to realize he isl in love with her, and he determines to lift her up again. "Boston" Charley, the rival gang-leader, has other plans.

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Plot Keywords:

gang leader | society woman | chinatown | speakeasy | reformation | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tong War

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (MovieTone) (talking sequences, musical score, sound effects) Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Completed as a silent film, but was dubbed with sound for release. Florence Vidor did not return to record her character's dialog, so Nella Walker supplied her voice instead.

User Reviews

Wellman gives birth to talkies during tong war.

Filming of Chinatown Nights as a silent was one-third completed when production was stopped to adapt it to sound. Four days later, dialogue had been written and filming resumed. In the Movietone version that survives, the retained silent sequences sometimes jarringly remind the viewer that the silent cinema was a totally different art form. Over-emoted scenes are dubbed and the result is risable. Indeed, Florence Vidor quit the talkies immediately upon the completion of principle photography and her dubbing is handled by an actress who manages to inject a tremmello into every syllable. However, when the new footage takes over, the film paces itself well. The love story plays true and the Chinese Theatre set piece is rousing. Wellman keeps the camera moving. If you enjoy seeing the birth of a new art form, then you might not mind the man with the megaphone's sloppy looping. His voice will still bark even when the cone goes to his side. And did I mention Warner Oland plays an evil Oriental? Recommended.