Anna May Wong was born Wong Liu Tsong on January 3, 1905 in Los Angeles, California. Her parents ran a laundry in the Chinatown section of L.A.
Anna became a photographer's model when she was still attending Hollywood High School. She was fascinated with the movie industry at a young age. She was lucky in that she was born and raised in the heart of the film world because she was able to attend filming of scenes from movies in and around the L.A. area. Most aspiring actresses would have gladly traded places with her.
When Anna was almost 14, her actor cousin, James Wong, showed a photograph of her to a director which resulted in her getting a bit part in the film DINTY in 1918. Unfortunately for film buffs the movie no longer exists due to deterioration.
In 1921, Anna appeared in two films entitled SHAME and BITS OF LIFE. They were bit parts but as with any aspiring actress, a stepping stone to bigger and better roles. The latter gave her billing before the public.
Anna's biggest break was when she landed the role of a Mongol slave girl 1924's THE THIEF OF BAGDAD. This film helped her to become the only Chinese-American to make it to major movie stardom. It also helped her into parts of movies with a Chinese or Orient theme. Sometimes Anna would be the heroine and sometimes the wicked adversary.
In 1926, she made A TRIP TO CHINATOWN which further enhanced her status among the film going public. With her trademark bangs and Oriental dress, Anna developed into a very beautiful actress. Before long her name was synonymous with enigmatic Chinese productions. Films such as THE DEVIL DANCER (1927), ACROSS TO SINGAPORE, and THE CRIMSON CITY (both made in 1928) kept movie fans coming to the theaters.
By the early 1930's she had not only made the successful move into 'talkies', but also became a globetrotting star making motion pictures in Europe.
Upon her return to the US after three years, Anna was signed to a contract with Paramount.
She reached the height of her career when she headlined in 1932's SHANGHAI EXPRESS along with Marlene Dietrich.
In 1938, Anna played Lan Ying in DANGEROUS TO KNOW with Charles Laughton, Lloyd Nolan, and Anthony Quinn. In this film, she was a kept woman seeking revenge when the gangleader tries to replace her. This film offered plenty of melodrama and was well received at the box-office.
By the 1940's Anna's career was stalling. Theater patrons were finding escapist fare elsewhere and her Chinese melodramas were no longer in demand. Also with society's attitude toward any race other than Anglo-Saxon, it was harder to compete in the marketplace.
After 1943's LADY FROM CHUNGKING, Anna didn't appear again until IMPACT in 1949. She did host, ever so briefly, a TV series called THE GALLERY OF MADAME LIU-TSONG. A few other TV appearances came sporadically during the 1950's.
By now she learned she was suffering from heart problems coupled with cirrhosis. Anna had one last effort to return to the big screen for two final films in 1960. The first was PORTRAIT IN BLACK and the last was THE SAVAGE INNOCENTS. The latter wasn't the hit it was hoped for because critics gave it mixed reviews and the public was so indifferent toward it.
On February 2, 1961, Anna died of a heart attack in Santa Monica, California. She was
56 and never married.
Some hard to find Anna May Wong pics below.
Anna May Pic 1
Anna May Pic 2
Anna May Pic 3
Anna May Pic 4
Anna May Pic 5
Anna May Pic 6
Click here to go to Barbara La Marr
Let me know if you have any better pics of Miss Wong.
© 1998 Denny C. Jackson dejackso@iglou.com
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