Watch Lady from Chungking For Free

Truly Dreadful Film

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Anna May Wong gives a poised and dignified starring performance that fully demonstrates a great but indefinable quality: screen presence. It is even more remarkable since this film has a grade-c level budget.Harold Huber is miscast as a Japanese General (he often was miscast in his movie roles) but he does manage to subdue his usual tendency to shout dialog, and imbues his performance with the pompousness and ego that the character requires.Ms. Wong is convincing as a leader of brave Chinese WWII resistance, a cause that was close to her international viewpoint and efforts at the time.I would give a 10 star rating to Ms. Wong and maybe a 5 to the film itself. But I absolutely recommend that everyone view "Lady From Chungking" for Anna May Wong's performance. It is indisputably the performance of a true Movie Star.

"Lady from Chungking" was a Wartime propaganda-style Flag-Waver made on a shoestring budget that really shows. The only real reason for watching this film today is for its' star, Anna May Wong.Ms. Wong's career was a study in contrast and conflict. The conflict was her battle for professional recognition and against prejudice. The contrast was that so often her genuine talent and truly great beauty and poise was put on display alongside actors who couldn't hold a candle to her and in films made as cheaply as possible."Lady from Chungking", although made relatively late in her career, is a typical example of all the above. Ms. Wong OWNS every scene she appears in - as was true of most her work. Her co-stars appear dull and forced beside her. The "Chinese" sets are nothing but trinkets and wall-hangings and cheap furniture - usually dimly lit in hopes we won't notice. The Japanese general's uniform looks like it came from leftovers of "The Emperor Jones". As is typical of these films, only REAL Asian actors sound legit(because they talk like the ordinary Americans they were), while all the Whites playing Asian roles sound incredibly Racist and Fake precisely because they are trying to sound Asian!!Then just when you're ready to chuck the whole thing - along comes another scene with Anna May Wong. She was an excellent talent, a True Star, and a Fashion Icon in her day and it is obvious every time she is on camera. There are certainly better Anna May Wong films out there but if this one is available take the chance to see it. Ms. Wong is the "Pearl" in this oyster of a film and you will be rewarded if you take the time to find her in it. Six Stars only as even Anna can't work miracles here.

Wow....were there so few Asian actors in Hollywood that they had to make Jewish-American Harold Huber (who often played Hispanic or Brooklyn characters) a Japanese General in this film...or were the film makers just idiots? Well, considering the Russian lady with perfect American diction and accent, I can just assume they were idiots. Regardless, it's pretty funny seeing the terrible casting in this movie. And, since it was made by a so-called 'poverty row' studio (because of their extraordinarily low budgets and resources), this sort of thing isn't at all surprising to those familiar with these third-rate production companies...nor are the obviously balsa wood planes used when the film begins.The film is set in Occupied China during WWII. The Japanese are in charge and LOTS of international folks drop by--including Germans, Russians and Americans. However, as I said above, the casting is weird so they all seem about the same. Anna May Wong plays a Chinese lady (this is bizarre as she really was Chinese) who cozies up to the General and pretends to be loyal to the new order--all the while she works to help her country regain its freedom. And, to further her plan, she helps free two downed American pilots. Then, things get pretty crazy--ending in an incredibly preachy little speech from Wong that is just too goofy to explain--you just need to see it.I have seen dozens and dozens of American WWII propaganda films, and while this is not the very worst...it's close. No one in the film playing any of the ethnic parts did them justice (except Wong) and the acting was pretty limp at times. Additionally, the script just seemed cheap as did the entire production. Watchable...but nothing more.

A group of Chinese farmers are being worked by the occupying Japanese army during World War II, while secretly working their underground movement to end the oppression. Kwan Mei, whose family was killed by the invaders, is questioned by the Japanese concerning the whereabouts of an American flier that was shot down. General Kaimura is taken by Kwan Mei's beauty and becomes his mistress, but she uses this to her advantage in order to obtain information vital to the Allied war effort. When she learns of a Japanese troop train that is to arrive, it is up to her to lead her fellow Chinese and allies to intercept it, overcoming the obstacles of the Japanese army and her fellow farmers who believe she betrayed them to the enemy. Very good propaganda film from PRC, which should have been done at another studio so its message of sacrifice and camaraderie would have been heard by more. Wong is simply terrific in her role as the clever Kwan Mei and her message at the end of the film captures the essence of every person oppressed by an evil captor. The scenes with Clarke, Donath, and the American fliers really take away from the main essence of the film and just seem to pad the running time. Worth a look. Rating, 7.