Piccadilly (1929, UK)

Jim models the dancer's costume Silent film about a London club proprietor, who discovers a Chinese girl with talent; she is Sho-Sho, played by Anna May Wong. The film and the story are laden with the prejudices and peculiarities of the time, but it's an interesting glimpse into the past.

The club owner takes her to Limehouse (where there was a large Chinese enclave at the time) to get a costume for her act; for unclear reasons, she motions to Jim, (King Ho-Chang) a Chinese helper in the store, and says "Let him try it on". He does so, with very bad grace.


It looks better on her After some tough negotiation, the costume is bought, and we soon see her performing, wearing it. It looks a lot better on her than it did on Jim.

HF December 2003


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