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Managing Editor This week's DVDs both have Asian themes. Chu Chin Chow There are few better pleasures to a film buff than to see a "lost" film or to view the complete version of a movie that had previously only been seen in an edited form and that's just part of this appeal of this new release from VCI Entertainment. Another draw is the fact that modern audiences can see a performance from a woman who was one of a kind in Hollywood in the 1920s through '60s: Anna May Wong. At a time when white actors routinely portrayed Asian on screen, Wong was the only Asian actress who was known to the public through a series of both supporting and co-starring roles. She was a true pioneer. Beautiful and expressive, Wong started her career during the silent era and had a starring role in the first Technicolor feature film The Toll of the Sea and a showy part in Douglas Fairbanks' The Thief of Baghdad, among many others. She had a great voice and easily made the transition from the silent screen to the talkies. Despite her popularity, Wong faced much prejudice from film studios that would only consider her in "dragon lady" villain roles or the innocent "lotus flower" heroine. She seldom had the opportunity to show her considerable range. At a time when many states had laws forbidding marriage between different races, Hollywood never risked giving Wong conventional leading lady roles. The sad thing is that over 40 years after her death in 1961, Asian American actresses still have a difficult time securing adequate roles. How many Asians are on television? When was the last time you saw an Asian actress in a movie? Chu Chin Chow is the filmed adaptation of a successful British stage musical based on the story of "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves." At that time in the 1930s, many British films were low-budget affairs that had a difficult time attracting audiences from the more popular American imports. Chu Chin Chow was truly different. It was an opulent Hollywood-style musical with great sets, an adult tone watch out for all those scantily clad slave girls and over-the-top comic performances. Shot in 1934, the film was cut by distributors from its original 102 minutes down to 93 minutes and then to a 78- minute version that eliminated many of the musical numbers. VCI Entertainment has not only restored the missing footage, but they've assembled a wonderful package of extra features. Film historian Jay Fenton presents the original film with a commentary. The cut-down version, Ali Baba Nights, is also there, as well as a third feature with Fritz Kortner who played the villain in Chu Chin Chow. They even included the Max Fleischer Popeye classic Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in sparkling color. This is an outstanding package. If you're into classic films, this should be on your list. For more information, log onto www.vcient.com New Police Story Back in the early 1990s, Hong Kong cinema became an underground favorite. Non-Asians in this country had heard about stars such as Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, Sammo Hung and Stephen Chow, and directors John Woo and Tsui Hark and were seeking out videos from Asian markets here or importing laser discs from Asia. Eventually the establishment film writers caught wind of the phenomena and Hollywood came calling. With the success of Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx, more and more people in the mainstream became acquainted with Hong Kong cinema. Why was it so popular? There is a vitality to these films that is often lacking in American films and they reflect a culture that is at times very familiar and at many other times completely foreign. Chan and John Woo had the quickest and biggest success. A number of Chan's films were brought to this country where they were dubbed, re-edited and given new musical tracks. Chan started making films here the Rush Hour and Shanghai Knights series that have been popular, but I don't think they truly reflect Chan's talents. Apparently Chan himself is dissatisfied with his relationship with American studios and his latest film may never be brought to this country for a theatrical release. He doesn't want an American distributor to re-cut the film or put a silly soundtrack on it. It is available on DVD, though, and if you're a fan, you'll want to seek it out. New Police Story might seem to be another offering in Chan's series of the same name, but unlike the previous films, there is precious little comedy. Instead we have a much more serious and mature film that presents some spectacular stunts and action sequences. Chan plays a police commander who witnesses the murder of his squad at the hands of a gang who robs and kills for kicks. The experience breaks him and he is lured back into service after a yearlong bender by a young police cadet when the gang is active again. Chan gives one of his best dramatic performances and the film is sharply directed by Benny Chan. At age 51, Chan still has his martial arts and stunt man chops and this DVD comes with a separate disc with a "making of" feature. Now, how does a person get the chance to see a film such as this? Well, here's where being a film buff can be a bit of an adventure. It's available on DVD in a format (look for "NTSC" "All Region" or "Region One" or it won't play in your machine) from various Asian web sites (www.yesasia.com is a good one.) The film is letter-boxed with English subtitles. The search will be well worth it. New Police Story is Jackie Chan in top form. |
