Piccadilly (1929)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Writer:

Arnold Bennett (original screenplay)

Release Date:

1 June 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

The star attraction of the Piccadilly Club is the dancing team of Mabel and Vic. Victor is infatuated with Mabel...

Plot Keywords:

Dancing | Dishwasher | Chinese | Racism | Romantic Rivalry

Cast

Gilda Gray	...	Mabel Greenfield
Anna May Wong	...	Shosho
Jameson Thomas	...	Valentine Wilmot
Charles Laughton	...	A Nightclub Diner
Cyril Ritchard	...	Victor Smiles (as Cyrill Ritchard)
King Hou Chang	...	Jim (as King Ho Chang)
Hannah Jones	...	Bessie

Runtime:

92 min | 109 min (restored version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Silent

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

British International Pictures Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British International Pictures (BIP)

Movie Connections:

Featured in Silent Britain (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

When Love Comes Stealing

Oriental Pearl of Picadilly

Anna May Wong may have been one of the most beautiful women in film history. She should have been a huge star but obviously racial prejudices of the time prevented it and Hollywood certainly badly misused her. In this film,made in England by the great E.A.DuPont, she proves that she could act as well as look good. Notice her controlled facial expressions and body movements....they are very low key in a time when acting was often over the top and bordering on "hammy".

The story concerns the rise of Ms. Wong (Shosho) as a dancer and inamorata of nightclub owner, Valentin (Jameson Thomas)....much to the distress of Mabel (Gilda Gray) as the featured act at the Picadilly and also a lover of the owner. Ms. Gray looks fat and frumpy and the line "You're too old for him" spoken to her by Shosho rings true. Things go from bad to worse and lead to the scene in Shosho's apartment which is the highlight of the film. Ms. Wong is absolutely terrific. Murder happens and the mysterious Jimmy gets involved. The resolution of that murder is unsatisfying and the ensuing trial mirrors the racial stereotypes of the times.

But all that aside, if you want to see a gloriously stunning woman and a wonderful performance, see this film. And by the way.....if you can figure out exactly what the relationship between Shosho and Jimmy is, let me know!