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Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow
Actors: Fritz Kortner, Nils Asther, John Stuart, Adrienne Ames, Esme Percy
Directors: Karl Grune, Walter Forde
Genres: Action & Adventure, Indie & Art House, Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Musicals & Performing Arts
NR     2005     1hr 42min

VCI is pleased to present this very rare 1934 British classic, based on the original Oscar Asche stage production which set records during its initial run of 2,238 performances at His Majesty's Theatre. Chu Chin Chow is...  more »

     
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Movie Details

Actors: Fritz Kortner, Nils Asther, John Stuart, Adrienne Ames, Esme Percy
Directors: Karl Grune, Walter Forde
Creators: Ashley Dukes, Curt Siodmak, Edward Knoblock, Emeric Pressburger, L. du Garde Peach, Oscar Asche
Genres: Action & Adventure, Indie & Art House, Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Musicals & Performing Arts
Sub-Genres: Action & Adventure, Indie & Art House, Romantic Comedies, Love & Romance, Classics, Fantasy, Musicals
Studio: Vci Video
Format: DVD - Black and White,Full Screen
DVD Release Date: 06/21/2005
Original Release Date: 09/21/1934
Theatrical Release Date: 09/21/1934
Release Year: 2005
Run Time: 1hr 42min
Screens: Black and White,Full Screen
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaDVD Credits: 3
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 3
Edition: Box set,Collector's Edition,Special Edition
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English

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Movie Reviews

Chu Chin Chow? Wow!
David C. Rive Jr. | New Orleans, Louisiana | 06/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"A British screen musical ... from the 1930s?

Yes, and it stars Anna May Wong!

VCI Entertainment has released an incredible 3 DVD collectors set containing restorations of the original (102 minute) version of the British film CHU CHIN CHOW (1934), along with the shorter 1953 American release of the same film (re-titled ALI BABA NIGHTS and targeting a "kiddie matinee" audience, it cuts out most of the spice--and the music). The set also features generous photo galleries, artist bios, an Arabian Nights-themed Popeye cartoon, loads of other extras and another British feature film of the 1930s, Karl Grune's ABDUL THE DAMNED, starring Fritz Kortner who plays the bandit chief, Abu Hassan, in CHU CHIN CHOW.

Ace film restorer, Jay Allan Fenton, supervised the project and it is a welcome addition to the expanding digital library of historically and artistically important films available to anyone with access to a DVD player. (Sound and image on these films can be less than pristine, but still almost miraculous considering their age and rarity.)

It is also a boon to aficionados of the sublime Anna May Wong.

Novelist Evelyn Waugh once wrote that it seemed absurd "that plays of oriental setting should have to be manufactured" for Wong, but CHU CHIN CHOW was not hatched as a starring vehicle for the Chinese American actress. Combining elements of musical comedy and pantomime, CHU CHIN CHOW was a venerable British show biz institution by the time it reached the screen in 1934. With a story by Oscar Asche and music by Frederic Norton, the stage version was first produced at His Majesty's Theatre on August 3, 1916 and ran for five years and a (then record) total of 2238 performances. There was a silent version of the musical shot in 1925 (go figure!), so the 1934 film is theoretically a re-make.

British illustrator and writer, Osbert Lancaster, recalled in his memoir, With An Eye To The Future, his mother's "slightly puritanical" attitudes toward playgoing. He notes "musical comedies and revues were regarded with marked disfavour as being certainly trivial and probably immoral," but that "exception was made in favour of CHU CHIN CHOW on account of its oriental setting."

Bathed in exoticism and set in a far off place and time, it seems the play, and later, the film's "oriental setting" gave uptight "slightly puritanical" British audiences license to enjoy a bit of "immoral" fun.

The Gainsborough Picture, filmed at Islington by Walter Forde, is a campy orientalist trifle, based on Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, distinguished by Hollywood style production numbers (rare for British films of this vintage), over-the-top costumes and characterizations, and the fantastic set design of Hungarian-born Erno Metzner (who also designed the sets for W.B. Pabst's German silent THE DIARY OF A LOST GIRL, starring the American actress Louise Brooks).

Cinematography is by German Expressionist vet, Mutz Greenbaum (AKA Max Green), and the film seems at times more naturalistic in detail than American films of the same type and vintage, but at others far more theatrical and stylized. The ethnic portrayals (by an international cast) are strictly of the period.

The film is further distinguished by the luminous presence of Anna May Wong, who plays the shimmering Zahrat. The role is reminiscent of her turn as the Mongol spy in THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (1925), and she brings to it the same dance-like grace and willowy bearing.

In CHU CHIN CHOW Wong is given opportunity to flaunt her exoticism and parade her potent sexuality. She seems somehow utterly natural and unselfconscious in the part--no matter how flagrantly over-the-top the character of Zahrat. In this pantomime-based role, we're acutely aware of the actress' mastery of controlled gesture, expression and attitude.

As always, Wong is so adept at projecting herself, and creating a vivid visual image of character, that we cannot keep our eyes off of her when she's on screen.

Once again, Wong steals the show-and undoubtedly some hearts-without even trying.

It has been reported that British audiences were appalled by her harsh L.A. accent, yet as early as 1930, Evelyn Waugh wrote, "We have learned from her 'talky' that she has an excellent speaking voice" and goes on to praise her "balance of modesty and refinement." She sounds fine here, speaking in the low, British inflected theatrical voice she employed for the remainder of her career.

Thanks to Jay Allan Fenton, and the folks at VCI Entertainment for making these films available to the public. Accessibility of Wong materials has been meager, but now it seems we're witnessing the opening of a treasure trove of long unseen films (another superior British film featuring Wong, PICCADILLY, was recently released by Milestone Collection). It is fortunate that these films are finally coming to light again after being buried in the vaults for so long. This release is truly an embarrassment of riches for fans of Wong, and anyone interested in world cinema.






"
Viva VCI !!
Philip Leibfred | New York, NY United States | 07/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 3-DVD set is a must for Anna May Wong fans, British film fans and costume film fans. On every level it is the equal of any production made by England's top studio of the time, Alexander Korda's London Films. This film has languished in obscurity for too long; VCI has rescued it with a fine, sharp and complete print (most of those available before were missing 9-10 minutes). Besides a top-notch cast, it contains marvelous sets, lavish costumes and fine direction. Bonus features are numerous, including bios of the chief players and director, a gorgeous gallery of stills featuring Miss Wong and an added feature, Abdul the Damned (1935) starring Fritz Kortner, as well as the abridged version of Chu Chin Chow released by the U.S. company Lippert in 1953 as Ali Baba Nights, in which the musical numbers were excised. The former is another obscure film which also features imaginative sets and costumes.
VCI had done an outstanding presentation of all this material; even the menu headings move! The eye-catching cover illustration is from a British film magazine cover and an informative booklet gives the viewer much background material. Kudos to VCI for a fine job!"
Interesting period piece, godawful DVD release
ssmithee | Redondo Beach, CA United States | 07/16/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)

"Although this DVD says it's "digitally remastered," that only means that it was transferred from film to the digital medium of DVD. The releasing company missed a golden opportunity to clean it up -- the film is grainy, flickering and shows signs of deterioration that could and should have been corrected before releasing the film on DVD. The soundtrack, as well, is perfectly awful, with shattered, screeching highs and inaudible lows. I have recordings made from wax cylinders recorded before 1910 that have been restored to sound much better than this 1934 release. It's very discouraging that so little care and attention should have been paid to finally making this film available after so many years. Anna May Wong, and the people who buy this DVD, deserve better."
Good But pretty Tame
D. Fancher | California | 08/30/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)

"I saw nothing in this Film that should of merited any sort Banning. In fact, I think for Kids, It might be a bit on the "slow side" of things for thier enjoyment, but as a adult, I most definatally appreciatted this film. I thoroughly enjoyed Anna's Charector as a Slave girl. I would tend to reccomend this for Serious Anna May Wong Fans and completists only. I Liked "Daughter of a Dragon Much More So, or Piccadilly is an another Film I'd Reccomend. The Anna May Wong Bio and Gallery contained on this DVD makes it a Must for the Collector."