Anna Chen pays tribute to her heroine and namesake, Hollywood screen idol Anna May Wong, star of the classic 1929 movie Piccadilly. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Piccadilly Radio 4 celebrates its glamorous star and examines the impact she made during her time in Britain.

Despite initial success in a number of Hollywood silent movies as the first prominent Asian actor, Anna May Wong became despondent at the racism and stereotypical roles there. In Hollywood she was not allowed to kiss her leading man and even at the peak of her popularity, she could not have bought a house in Beverly Hills nor legally married a white man in her home state until 1947.

Her fate was to be forever cast as the scarlet woman, never to get her man and always to be killed off before the film ended. Despite her enormous impact in silent films like Shanghai Express with Marlene Dietrich she never quite made it to being a leading lady in Hollywood.

So, like her friend Josephine Baker, she left to try her luck in Europe. Living at Claridges in 1929, she starred on the London stage opposite Laurence Olivier in The Circle of Chalk, and was feted by London society. Her role in Piccadilly was especially created for her.

An expressionist-influenced crime thriller shot in London with a screenplay by Arnold Bennett, the film made her a household name in Britain. It was re-released by the BFI in 2005 with a new score by Neil Brand and has something of a cult following.

Contributors include: biographer Graham Gao Hodges, composer Neil Brand, film historians Kevin Brownlow and Jasper Sharp, actor Alice Lee, cultural anthropologist Diana Yeh, film makers Elaine Woo and Ed Manwell.

Anna Chen writes and presents Anna May Wong: Celestial Star in Piccadilly, broadcast 11:30am Tuesday 13th January 2009. Her blog http://madammiaow.blogspot.com/,  is currently shortlisted for the Weblog Awards Best Culture Blog (http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-culture-blog/)

Find out more about Anna's reviews The Good Earth here: http://www.dimsum.co.uk/culture/the-good-earth-review-anna-may-wong-and-chinese-in-hollywood.html, 

 

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Teck Khong Posted 1:59 on 5 January 2009 Anna May Wong epitomises the tireless spirit of those who would challenge the tide of prejudice. She and others like her should inspire us in the Year of the Ox and beyond. Reply | Quote

Anna Chen - Anna's blog at Madam Miao Posted 17:53 on 6 January 2009 You can read more about Anna May Wong and catch up with views from British Born Chinese cultural and political commentator Anna Chen here: http://madammiaow.blogspot.com/ Reply | Quote

Elaine Mae Woo - A Celestial Star in Piccadilly Posted 20:57 on 7 January 2009 It's great that the British recognize and bring to people's attention early Chinese contributions to Hollyood as well as early cinema. "Anna May Wong ~ Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend" Website http://www.anna-may-wong.com Reply | Quote

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