Beautiful Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American movie star, had to move to England to be cast in movies worthy of her talents but returning to the U.S. in 1930 she was given a part in "On the Spot" on Broadway. It ran for 167 performances and was based on an Edgar Wallace mystery. After this she went to Hollywood where she was given the lead in "Daughter of the Dragon". Yes, it gave her a racially stereotyped role but at least she was the star. Strangely enough, her biggest competition at this time was Myrna Loy, who was still in her Oriental period. The next year Miss Loy appeared as Fu Manchu's evil daughter in MGM's over the top production - "The Mask of Fu Manchu".
In this less opulent outing Anna plays exotic Princess Ling Moy, a beautiful Oriental dancer who is the toast of London - but is also the daughter of Fu Manchu!!! Since going on a murderous rampage 20 years before for retaliation against the death of his family, he is thought to be long dead. He is very much alive - but not for long and before he dies, he draws forth a promise from Ling Moy to eradicate Ronald Petrie, the last of the family who he mistakenly believes killed his family.
She is eager to get started and begins by romancing Ronald, much to the upset of his simpering fiancée. Another person who falls under her spell is Ah Kee (Sessue Hayakawa) from Scotland Yard. Hayakawa had caused a sensation in "The Cheat" (1915) which not only showed a white society woman as a slave to an Oriental (shock, horror!!!) but also highlighted his very natural acting style (while all the other cast members were gesturing their heads off!!). Funnily enough, in this movie Hayakawa comes across as stiff and uncomfortable, maybe it was the fact that as a Japanese he was forced to play a Chinese policeman!! Warner Oland (Fu Manchu) who was often cast as an Oriental heavy (who could forget him in "Old San Francisco") was actually Swedish!!
Ling Moy starts out relatively normal but becomes more evil as the movie progresses. It would have been great to see her go completely over the top and have an emotional scene but that just wasn't her style. By the end Ronald's sympathy is completely with Joan (Frances Dade) especially when the torture they have set up for her is drinking acid!!! Ronald is played by Bramwell Fletcher, who seemed quite at home in these horror pics - he also featured in "The Mummy" and "The Monkey's Paw". Nella Walker played the mother, who didn't seem to have much to do other than look worried as her family dropped like flies!!!
Recommended.
In this less opulent outing Anna plays exotic Princess Ling Moy, a beautiful Oriental dancer who is the toast of London - but is also the daughter of Fu Manchu!!! Since going on a murderous rampage 20 years before for retaliation against the death of his family, he is thought to be long dead. He is very much alive - but not for long and before he dies, he draws forth a promise from Ling Moy to eradicate Ronald Petrie, the last of the family who he mistakenly believes killed his family.
She is eager to get started and begins by romancing Ronald, much to the upset of his simpering fiancée. Another person who falls under her spell is Ah Kee (Sessue Hayakawa) from Scotland Yard. Hayakawa had caused a sensation in "The Cheat" (1915) which not only showed a white society woman as a slave to an Oriental (shock, horror!!!) but also highlighted his very natural acting style (while all the other cast members were gesturing their heads off!!). Funnily enough, in this movie Hayakawa comes across as stiff and uncomfortable, maybe it was the fact that as a Japanese he was forced to play a Chinese policeman!! Warner Oland (Fu Manchu) who was often cast as an Oriental heavy (who could forget him in "Old San Francisco") was actually Swedish!!
Ling Moy starts out relatively normal but becomes more evil as the movie progresses. It would have been great to see her go completely over the top and have an emotional scene but that just wasn't her style. By the end Ronald's sympathy is completely with Joan (Frances Dade) especially when the torture they have set up for her is drinking acid!!! Ronald is played by Bramwell Fletcher, who seemed quite at home in these horror pics - he also featured in "The Mummy" and "The Monkey's Paw". Nella Walker played the mother, who didn't seem to have much to do other than look worried as her family dropped like flies!!!
Recommended.