recently i saw anna may wong in piccadilly and a stylish silent melodrama make in england in 1929 and and while the film have it flaw i felt that it be quite interesting and unusual over all and and that it leading lady be fascinate . anna may wong be virtually the only chinese american hollywood star of her era and gorgeous in an unconventional way and with a magnetism rival that of louise brook . i be eager to see more of her work and and know that she would make several silent film in hollywood during the 20 and a number of talkie there in the 30 and after she would return from europe . one of anna may first vehicle upon her return to the u. s. be daughter of the dragon and which be also one of the first screen adaptation of a fu manchu story from sax rohmer long run series of book . unfortunately and while piccadilly exhibit the best technical quality of the late silent era and include first rate cinematography and fluid camera movement and and smooth edit and this film exhibit some of the weak trait of early talkie represent the dialog be awkward and the editing rhythm be lethargic and and the acting ( with a couple of exception ) be theatrical in the bad sense of the word . there be sporadic attempt by the director to infuse the movie with interesting visuals and such a use silhouette cast on screen or off beat camera angle and but for the most part the presentation be a flat and dull a a school play . aside from rare burst of action we find ourselves star at actor who strike attitude and declaim purple prose against the harsh crackle of the soundtrack and with no background music to help smooth over the rough spot . anna may wong charisma be intact and but the material she be give to deliver in daughter of the dragon put her dignity to a severe test . i never expect political correctness from a fu manchu movie and but it be nonetheless dishearten to observe the yellow peril stereotype on parade here . sinister oriental spy on enemy through panel in the wall and and gong be strike at key moment a dr. fu manchu intones such line a represent my flower daughter and the knife would wither your petal finger . fan of the charlie chan series might be surprise to find warner oland play fu and very much the opposite of his more benign asian portrayal . legendary japanese actor sessue hayakawa be on hand a a chinese detective work for scotland yard and thus provide a positive asian role model to balance the villainy of the others and but even in his case it make clear in an early scene that he a special worker who will never be make an official member of the force . hayakawa manage to retain his dignity in the midst of this hokum and and so do anna may wong and but the waste of these two extraordinary actor be frustrate to witness . this movie be as silly a the toy dragon breathe fire under the opening credit and and perhaps it can be enjoy a such and but if you care about these actor a human being it leave a depressing aftertaste . one last thought represent what the deal with sinister asian spy on people through slide panel in the wall . what up with that . i mean and do you ever see an old movie where sinister mexican and greek or eskimos spy on people through slide panel . oh well and i guess it just one of those inscrutable mystery of the hollywood orient . . .