Customer Reviews

Anna May Wong: A Complete Guide to Her Film, Stage, Radio and Television Work

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

There used to be a place for authors to respond to reviews by readers, and I am not sure what happened to that link. I responded to your queries, and did not go overboard with praise for my book. I can tell you that unlike the other authors we checked our facts out at our cost and time. You are being unfair in your comparisons, and it sounds as if you have a personal problem with the book.
Again, our facts were checked out. Others were not. Had not Amazon taken that link, I would be able to respond as an author.
Chei Mi Lane

Though this book is costly, I agree that a book on her career is far different than a bio. I was disappointed with the two biographies for much of the same reasons as one of the reviewers of the other two books felt disappointment.
I did not know of Anna May Wong's radio career until this book, and I have happily found one of her radio shows based on a Pearl Buck book on account of it.
Had I gone on a search for a few of her films based on the bios, only to find out that it was not the Anna May Wong of note, I would have been very upset that I spent the money on the biographies. One of the bios on her is as costly as this book, with many errors inside. Being a student of film, this book is invaluable. It had at least as complete of a cast list, reviews, and synopses as were available. It had a complete listing of her episodes on her TV show from DuMont. It had almost seventy photos too, though I wish there were more. At least these two authors did their homework, not relying on readily available info, which is often wrong.
If you want a book on her career, this one is it. If you want a bio, you take what you get, as both available seem very flawed.
Do not expect to find scandal, sexual innuendoes, and theories based on the authors' assumptions in this book. Save that for the people who feel the need to pontificate.
Do expect as complete of a career listing that cannot be found anywhere else.
Do expect it to cost you some bucks.

In ANNA MAY WONG: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO HER FILM, STAGE, RADIO AND TELEVISION WORK authors Philip Leibfried and Chei Mi Lane deliver an authoritative work of solid research and scholarship.

It's a quaintly old-fashioned book. In layout and writing style it could've been published thirty or forty years ago. Aptly, the slightly anachronistic format and feel is a fine showcase for the authors' good old-fashioned scholarship and authority. Its focus is no doubt narrower than other the two other books devoted to Wong, but is completely successful within its stated scope and goals.

The book sketches Wong's life in admirable fashion, but lavishes most attention to her work in film and stage. The authors' research was truly exhaustive, and it would be hard to imagine the book ever being eclipsed. It will remain an important reference work for any scholar of Wong's work for many years to come.

Richly detailed and enlivened by juicy excerpts from vintage reviews, I can imagine this book inspiring hours of pleasure for any film buff or Wong fan.

Alas, the book notes that many of Wong's films are lost, but this admirable work keeps them alive in some small way through its honest affection and scrupulous scholarship.

To the reader who calls himself Shang: I am the main author of this work and am sorry that you feel that you have misspent your money. No one, certainly not I, forced you to buy the book, though your purchase is certainly appreciated. As for the timing of its publication, you must realize that Mr. Lane and I spent a number of years collecting the information found therein; we did not know of the two biographies because they were conceived far more recently. We welcomed their appearance, however, figuring that our book would be bought in conjunction with one of those in order for readers to have a complete picture of the woman who was Anna May Wong. Our book was a labor of love; as admirers of Miss Wong and her achievements, we did our utmost to present readers with every aspect of her lengthy career, which had previously been covered in but a few articles, mostly of mine. Further, the book is intended as a reference work, no shame there; it is precisely what it purports to be. If you can do better, then do so and keep your petty complaints to yourself.
You said nothing of the numerous rare photos or the many contemporary reviews concerning her lost films. The prologue says better than any referral to "Daoist" theories what difficulties Miss Wong faced in attaining her goals. Did these add nothing to the value of the book in your opinion?
Your are bold with your statements, sir, but too timid to even identify yourself, thereby attaching no credence to your comments. Certainly our grammar is far superior to yours - "costed;" "mistakened;" "does not worth much"????? Where did you get those terms - from a World War II PRC movie? It's pidgin English at its worst, pal.

Who are you to say what other readers need? The other books on Anna May relied on reference works for their info. Perhaps if they had this book their errors would not be so glaring. Perhaps you should stick to pulp fiction.

A really fine book with a superb range of illustrations. Not meant to be a biography, its main value lies in its tracing of the career of Anna May Wong, and not in any rumors or suppositions about her life. This is the way a professional's life should be remembered: for her work, and not solely for her personal strengths or failings. Highly recommended---and a book that will not be improved upon for decades.

I have not read the biographies the one reviewer has mentioned. I feel that this book should be judged on its own merits. I don't have a problem with the price. This book looks like it has all the information on her career as is available.
Anyone just needing a list of films can go to many online sources, saving their money on the bios too. To find out other details and minor bits of her career, I feel that this book does its job very well.
One of the mistakes that many film sources make is to include 'The Savage Innocents' in her filmography. Leibfried and Lane give very sound reasons for her not being in the film, and they are correct in saying that there was another Anna May Wong, which was someone capitalizing on the name of the more famous one. I have seen the film, and there is no way that this was Wong Liu Tsong, of whom this book is concerned. They are to be commended for not bowing to the rest of the pack. They are also to be commended for digging much deeper than simply listings and articles.
I have Leibfried's other work on Haggard and Kipling, along with an early article he wrote on Anna May Wong. He seems to have been around, researching and contributing to the arts for many years.
It's obvious that the two authors who are concerned with her career truly cared about getting it right.
None of McFarland's books are low priced, so if you can't afford it, don't buy it and complain later.
It is interesting to note her radio career. I would guess that many stars had radio careers or numbers of appearances, yet they often get overlooked.
I have the radio show of Pearl Buck's "The Patriot," which is well described in this book. People scramble to save Old Time Radio shows as much as they try to preserve movies, and I am very happy that this one is not only saved, but catalogued in her career.

This book has correct information. The others are full of errors.
See their information on the Danger Man episode. Anna May Wong is not in that episode.
Is there any information on radio appearances in the other books?
You cannot compare a bio to a filmography. How much did you say it 'costed'?

Thank you. As Mr. Leibfried said, a lot of years was put into this book, and I am proud of my association and friendship with him. Had it not been for Philip's work in the '80s, much of the information on Anna May would not have been available to others.
I have no way to contact you, but note that we are in the same city. If you would like me to sign your book, please let me know. I cannot post my email address here, but my name is in the phone book.
Sincerely,
Chei Mi Lane

At first, this one reviewer mentions that he could have gotten this information in the biographies of Anna May Wong. Upon receiving an answer pointing out error, he changes his tune saying that 'we' need a story. I happen to enjoy glomming refernce works at libraries. I also happen to love this book very much. I have the bios, which I am not very happy with.
The reviewer said that the book came out a little too late. That seems to be the reason behind his criticisms.
This book is full of information, which is what I need and want from a book.
It was written by people who seem to have been familiar with her for much longer than the other authors. That means something to me.