Results: Anna May Wong (Part 3 of 4)
Published on 06/29/2023
Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong tired of the prejudice she dealt with in the US and the practice of Yellowface casting that ensured leading roles for Asian characters went to white actors. She moved to Europe, where she was successful in films in England, Germany, and France. (She became fluent in German and French so she was able to perform in 3 languages!)
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Having returned to the US, Anna May Wong was eager to audition for the plum lead role of O-Lan in 1937's "The Good Earth". It was an adaptation of her friend Pearl S Buck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about struggling farmers in China. According to contemporary TV writer/producer Ryan Murphy, Wong's audition "supposedly was so good it made grown men cry". Should this have been Wong's big break?
Yes
22%
445 votes
Maybe, I didn't see the audition.
43%
850 votes
No
8%
153 votes
N/A
28%
552 votes
2.
2.
After Wong's stellar audition, one executive said Wong was "too Chinese to play a Chinese", and the MGM producer assigned to cast the film said she, "did not seem beautiful enough" to be convincing in the role. What are your thoughts on those comments? Please select all that apply. (To enlarge the photo, right click on it and then select, "Open image in new tab.")
They're offensive.
30%
592 votes
They have a right to their opinions.
13%
264 votes
Those guys are the pros, they should know.
4%
85 votes
I agree with the comments.
2%
35 votes
N/A
38%
758 votes
They seem racist.
29%
583 votes
They're nonsensical.
27%
540 votes
3.
3.
The role of O-Lan was given to German-American actress Luise Rainer (pronounced Ry ner). Original plans called for her to wear a rubber mask! Instead, she performed with facial inlays. Are you surprised that Rainer got the part?
Yes
28%
555 votes
No
27%
535 votes
N/A
46%
910 votes
4.
4.
Reportedly Rainer gave a subtle and moving performance, and was awarded her second Academy Award in a row for best actress. Have you seen, "The Good Earth"?
Yes
7%
147 votes
I don't remember.
14%
271 votes
No
48%
961 votes
N/A
31%
621 votes
5.
5.
Although a dozen of the roles for main Asian characters in the film were given to white actors, the studio offered Wong the part of Lotus, the film's conniving courtesan. Wong declined, saying they were asking her, "with Chinese blood - to do the only unsympathetic role in the picture". Wong had tired of playing characters (like the one shown here) that she felt reflected badly on the Chinese people. Ironically, the part of Lotus went to an Austrian, Tilly Losch. What do you think of Wong's decision not to play the courtesan? Please choose all that apply.
She honorably took a stand against the practice of casting white actors as East Asian characters.
30%
591 votes
She had the courage to do what she thought was right.
33%
665 votes
I respect her for her decision.
30%
594 votes
She spared herself an unpleasant experience.
13%
259 votes
She missed out on a paycheck.
5%
105 votes
She could have gotten more exposure by appearing in the film.
5%
96 votes
She cut off her nose to spite her face.
2%
45 votes
It was an error in judgment.
3%
54 votes
N/A
40%
799 votes
COMMENTS