Regarding the issue of Anna May Wong and The Good Earth that came up here recently, I am continuing to research this subject for Kevin Brownlow who is presently writing a book on the films director, Sidney Franklin. Based on my latest research, I can once again confirm that, aside from a brief mention in a 1933 column, Anna was never a serious contender for the role of Olan such as has been maintained in a number of sources in recent years. While she did test for the role of the second wife Lotus, a part which ultimately went to Tilly Losch, she never tested for the role of the heroine Olan. I have found that in 1934 and 1935, other Asian actresses were announced or considered for Olan, including Soo Yong, whom Ive mentioned, the celebrated star of Chinese cinema Hu Die a.k.a. Butterfly Wu, and even Anna Mays older sister, Wong Ying, who also acted in films. But not Anna. Furthermore, I have yet to find an interview in later years in which Anna, who was quite outspoken in her views on Hollywood, ever claimed she sought the role of Olan or was disappointed when it went to Luise Rainer. Those, therefore, who came on this group a few days ago and gracelessly used the occasion of Miss Rainers passing to argue that in portraying Olan, she had somehow cheated Anna of a role which might have been hers--I can only repeat that these people were not only insensitive but completely inaccurate as well. There is no need to concoct some sort of rivalry between Anna and Luise. They actually faced parallel struggles in the course of their professional lives. We should instead honor them both for the wonderful contributions to cinema they did make in spite of all the odds that they each had to confront while achieving what they did.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 23:37:51 +0000
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