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When Were You Born

  • 19381938
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
347
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,988
35,152
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Anthony Averill, Lola Lane, Margaret Lindsay, Leonard Mudie, and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
Mei Lee Ling, an astrology expert, tells one of her fellow passengers on a ship, that he will die within two days and the next day he is dead. The police suspects that Mei does know something, but she doesn't.
Play trailer2:23
1 Video
13 Photos
  • Mystery
  • Romance
Mei Lee Ling, an astrology expert, tells one of her fellow passengers on a ship, that he will die within two days and the next day he is dead. The police suspects that Mei does know somethin... Read allMei Lee Ling, an astrology expert, tells one of her fellow passengers on a ship, that he will die within two days and the next day he is dead. The police suspects that Mei does know something, but she doesn't. But to clear herself she offers her help to solve the murder. Soon she... Read allMei Lee Ling, an astrology expert, tells one of her fellow passengers on a ship, that he will die within two days and the next day he is dead. The police suspects that Mei does know something, but she doesn't. But to clear herself she offers her help to solve the murder. Soon she and the police find themselves in a web of crime and false identities.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
347
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,988
35,152
  • Director
    • William C. McGann
  • Writers
    • Anthony Coldeway(screenplay)
    • Manly P. Hall(original story)
  • Stars
    • Margaret Lindsay
    • Anna May Wong
    • Lola Lane
Top credits
  • Director
    • William C. McGann
  • Writers
    • Anthony Coldeway(screenplay)
    • Manly P. Hall(original story)
  • Stars
    • Margaret Lindsay
    • Anna May Wong
    • Lola Lane
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Trailer

    Photos13

    Anthony Averill, Margaret Lindsay, and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
    Charles C. Wilson and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
    Leonard Mudie and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
    Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
    Leonard Mudie in When Were You Born (1938)
    Lola Lane in When Were You Born (1938)
    Margaret Lindsay in When Were You Born (1938)
    Maurice Cass, Frank Jaquet, Margaret Lindsay, Charles C. Wilson, and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
    Anna May Wong at an event for When Were You Born (1938)
    Lola Lane, Margaret Lindsay, Leonard Mudie, and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)
    Margaret Lindsay and James Stephenson in When Were You Born (1938)
    Maurice Cass, Leonard Mudie, and Anna May Wong in When Were You Born (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Margaret Lindsay
    Margaret Lindsay
    • Doris Kane (Leo)as Doris Kane (Leo)
    Anna May Wong
    Anna May Wong
    • Mei Lei Ming (Aquarius)as Mei Lei Ming (Aquarius)
    Lola Lane
    Lola Lane
    • Nita Kenton (Cancer)as Nita Kenton (Cancer)
    Anthony Averill
    Anthony Averill
    • Larry Camp (Aries)as Larry Camp (Aries)
    Charles C. Wilson
    Charles C. Wilson
    • Inspector Jim C. Gregg (Taurus)as Inspector Jim C. Gregg (Taurus)
    • (as Charles Wilson)
    Jeffrey Lynn
    Jeffrey Lynn
    • Reporter Davis (Gemini)as Reporter Davis (Gemini)
    Eric Stanley
    • Shields, Corey's Valet (Virgo)as Shields, Corey's Valet (Virgo)
    James Stephenson
    James Stephenson
    • Phillip 'Phil' Corey (Libra)as Phillip 'Phil' Corey (Libra)
    Leonard Mudie
    Leonard Mudie
    • Frederick 'Fred' Gow (Scorpio)as Frederick 'Fred' Gow (Scorpio)
    Olin Howland
    Olin Howland
    • Peter Finlay (Sagittarius)as Peter Finlay (Sagittarius)
    Maurice Cass
    Maurice Cass
    • Dr. Merton (Capricorn)as Dr. Merton (Capricorn)
    Frank Jaquet
    Frank Jaquet
    • Sergeant Kelly (Pisces)as Sergeant Kelly (Pisces)
    Clayton Moore
    Clayton Moore
    • Assistant District Attorneyas Assistant District Attorney
    • (as Jack Moore)
    Manly P. Hall
    • Self - Manley P. Hall - Opening Narratoras Self - Manley P. Hall - Opening Narrator
    • (as Manley P. Hall)
    Sidney Bracey
    Sidney Bracey
    • Juggler Barrowsas Juggler Barrows
    • (uncredited)
    Sol Gorss
    • Ship Passengeras Ship Passenger
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Graham
    • Ship Passengeras Ship Passenger
    • (uncredited)
    John Harron
    John Harron
    • Dr. Merton's Assistantas Dr. Merton's Assistant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William C. McGann
    • Writers
      • Anthony Coldeway(screenplay)
      • Manly P. Hall(original story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was meant to be the first in a low-budget franchise starring Anna May Wong as a amateur detective who uses astrology to solve crimes.
    • Goofs
      Anna May Wond's character is depicted as a Chinese native, but she practices Western astrology instead of Chinese astrology.
    • Quotes

      Himself - Manley P. Hall - Opening Narrator: Now the twelfth sign of the Zodiac, Pisces, governs from 20th February to 20th March. Those who are born under it do most of their thinking sitting down because their feet hurt. But in the end, much of the world's greatest progress is accomplished by Piscean people who are mystic, creative and idealistic in their natures.

    • Crazy credits
      [prologue] "Because astrology plays such an important part in this story, Manley P. Hall will precede the picture with a brief discourse on this interesting subject".
    • Connections
      Referenced in Anna May Wong, Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Please Be Kind
      (uncredited)
      Music by Saul Chaplin
      Played when Ming tells Nita about herself in the ship's lounge

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    Remake
    When Were You Born (1938) is an non-credited remake of From Headquarters (1933).

    The plot is the same. The differences are WWYB introduces an astrologer to aid the police, while FH is a straight police procedural.

    While both are interesting "B" pictures, FH is, in my opinion, the better of the two. It has more stylish photography, moves along a bit faster, and has a somewhat better cast (though Margaret Lindsay appears in both films as a lead).

    Watch closely in this version, however, and you will see TV's The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) without his mask. (by Dr. Charles G. Waugh)
    helpful•6
    2
    • Kittyman
    • Jan 15, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 18, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La cartomanciana
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • First National Pictures
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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