Anna May Wong at the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival
February 15th, 2007 by Andre Soares
Photo: Elaine Mae Woo
As part of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, on March 18 the Castro Theatre will screen the 1929 silent Anglo-German drama Grossstadtschmetterling / Pavement Butterfly, directed by Richard Eichberg, and starring Anna May Wong as Princess Butterfly, an exotic Parisian fan dancer who flees her show after a serious accident. She later becomes a society darling, but as to be expected, her past catches up with her in the form of blackmailer.
According to Frako Loden’s write-up, "the collaboration between Chinese American legend Anna May Wong and German director Richard Eichberg, consisting of five films between 1928 and 1930, brought many firsts for the actress: her first on-screen kiss; her first English-, German- and French-speaking roles in a talkie. More than these undeniably important things, however, it promised a new world for her, a virtual European union of prestige and sophisticated filmmaking, and less of the stereotyping that limited her Hollywood roles."
Grossstadtschmetterling was Wong’s second film with Eichberg. The restored 35mm print comes courtesy of the British Film Institute.
As an aside, Anna May Wong is buried in an unmarked grave — alongside her mother (who does have a marker) — at the Rosedale Cemetery, a few miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Rosedale used to be one of the few ethnically mixed L.A. cemeteries.
Wong died of a heart attack in Santa Monica on Feb. 2, 1961. Her last film, Portrait in Black, starring Lana Turner, Anthony Quinn, and Sandra Dee, was released the previous year.
Grossstadtschmetterling / Pavement Butterfly, directed by Richard Eichberg. Written by: Hans Kyser, Adolf Lantz. Cast: Anna May Wong, Fred Louis Lerch, Elwood Fleet Bostwick, Alexander Granach.
Germany/United Kingdom 1929 | 90 mins | 35mm | Silent
More on the Asian American Film Festival
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Hedy Lamarr: Biographer Patrick Agan Discusses the Legendary Hollywood Star
5 Responses to “Anna May Wong at the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival”
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Hi Andre.
I was reading up on Anna May Wong and Louise Brooks, and I came across
your blog and your article about Anna May.
You mentioned that Anna May has an unmarked grave. Is that still true?
And if so, was there a reason since she did bequeath some money to her
sister.
Thanks.
Alex,
Yes, Anna May Wong’s grave remains unmarked — though it’s easy to find her because she’s buried right next to her mother, whose grave *is* marked.
I’m sorry, but I don’t know why there’s no marker for Anna May Wong.
Thanks Andre.
Either late this year or early next year, I’ll see about collecting some money to get her a headstone and I’ll send you some info if you’d like to post about it.
Btw, Paul Krugman has a blog, The Conscience of a Liberal and his articles are open to the public since the NYT dropped their paywall.
Thanks again.
Alex,
Let me know about Wong’s headstone when you’re ready. I’ll be happy to post an article about it.
And thanks for the Paul Krugman reminder. I was aware of the change in policy at “The New York Times,” but I haven’t changed the Krugman link as of yet.
The Anna May Wong Society - For support of Anna May Wong and her ground breaking effect that “first opened non-Asian masses to accept Asians as more than less then them”. “Anna May Wong - The spark of integration of two worlds”-David Moss.
There are about 2000 friends of Anna May Wong linked through MySpace to the Society and shortly will be asked to join the Society. I would encourage Alex Andre and anyone to post the headstone effort there as well (Societies blog named “These Foolish Things” will open November 7, 2007. I have had several unsolicited offers to contribute to an appropriate remains site memorial. Alex please contact me for there is no treasurer for a memorial undertaking.