ASIAN-AMERICAN CINEMA
If opportunities for Asian-Americans in silent film were decidedly limited, they may’ve actually worsened with the coming of sound. Several actors with Asian origins returned home, no doubt frustrated by the lack of work available in American films. The attempts by Marion Wong, Sessue Hawakaya and Anna May Wong to create an alternative to the degrading roles and yellowface of Hollywood had failed. For most of the Hollywood studio era, there were no works made by Asian filmmakers and Hollywood controlled depictions of Asians. In the 1950s and '60s, little would change. It wasn't until the decline of the studio system and the birth of Asian-American theater that there would Asian-American Cinema be reborn, ultimately expanding and diversifying in the 1990s and 2000s.

In the 1930s, series' like Charlie Chan, Fu Manchu, Mr. Moto and Mr. Wong furthered perceptions of Asian mysteriousness, whilst films like The Bitter Tea of General Yen, The Good Earth and others suggested that America’s taste for minstrelsy had simply taken on a new shade. Some Asian American actors nonetheless attempted to start careers. Merle Oberon was able to get starring roles after concocting a phony story about her origins and using skin whitening make-up. Philip Ahn, after rejection for speaking English too well, braved death threats after playing Japanese villains. Meanwhile, Anna May Wong worked abroad in less degrading roles.

   
                    Allen Jung                                                   Barbara Jean Wong                             Ching Wah Lee

  
                  Benson Fong                                                           Chester Gan                                           Frances Chan

  
                      Frank Tang                                             Grace Lem (aka Grace Key)                         Honorable Wu        

  
        Iris Wong                                                             Jadin Wong                                                       Kam Tong     

  
                  Keye Luke                                       Layne Tom Jr.                                            Lee Tung Foo

  
                                            Lotus Liu                                                         Lotus Long                           Luke Chan

   
                        Otto Yamaoka                                            Philip Ahn                                       Richard Loo 

  
                                   Roland Got                                                                                  Rudy Robles  

  
                    Sammee Tong                     (Keye Luke and) Suzanna Kim                             Teru Shimada     

  
       Victor Sen Yung                                           Victor Wong                                                   Walter Soo Hoo

 

                                William Law                                                                       Wing Foo


Not pictured: Al Kikume, Beal Wong, Benny Inocencio, Bo Ling, Bruce Wong, Clarence Lung, Eddie Lee, Eunice Soo-Hoo, George Chan, George Kaluna, H.W. Gim, Hayward Soo Hoo, Lal Chand Mehra, Lee Tung Foo, Maurice Liu, Moy Ming, Oie Chan, Otto Yamaoka, Paul Fung, Paul Singh, Peter Chong, Prince Leilani, Satini Pualoa, Soo Yong, Spencer Chan and Tom Ung.

 

 

Asian American Related Films of the 1930s:

The Flame of Love, Hai-Tang (both 1930), Daughter of the Dragon (1931), Secrets of Wu Sin (1932), The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933), Chu Chin Chow, Limehouse Blues (both 1934), Captured in Chinatown (1935), The General Died at Dawn,The Leathernecks Have Landed, Shadow of Chinatown (all 1936), Daughter of Shanghai, The Good Earth, The Rainbow Pass, West of Shanghai (all 1937), Barricade, King of Chinatown and North of Shanghai (all 1939)

In the 1940s, a host of films were set in Asia. In many, Asian actors still only worked in background roles. With World War II, many men played Japanese villians and women were often cast as Chinese damsels in distress.

 
                                               Frank Kumugai                                                                Jessie Tai Sing  

      

                                 Lane Nakano                                                                            Leon Lontoc  

       

                                      Marianne Quon                                                                           Maylia

Not pictured: Aen-Ling Chow, Bob Okazaki, Charles Opunui, David Chow, Duckie Louie, Frances Chung, Frank Wong, H.T. Tsiang, Hilo Hattie, Jean Wong, Joseph Kim, Kei Thin Chung, Keye Chang, Leslie Fong, Napua Wood, Pete G. Katchenaro and William Yip

       

Asian American Related Films of the 1940s:

Phantom of Chinatown (1940), Secret of the Wastelands (1941), Across the Pacific, Bombs Over Burma, China Girl, Little Tokyo, U.S.A. (all 1942), China, Headin' for God's Country, Lady from Chunking, Night Plane from Chungking, We've Never Been Licked (all 1943), The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), Back to Bataan, Betrayal from the East, China Sky, China's Little Devils, First Yank into Tokyo, Samurai, Secret Agent X-9 (all 1945), Tokyo Rose (1946), Intrigue (1947), Half Past Midnight, Women in the Night (both 1948), Chinatown at Midnight and State Department: File 649 (both 1949)

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