Piccadilly (1929)

Valentine Wilmot, the owner of the popular Piccadilly Club finds his lead male attraction, Victor Smiles (Cyril Ritchard) has quit and that the public has judged Victor’s partner Mabel as over the hill. Though they are lovers, Valentine must find another dancer to replace Mabel or face an uncertain future. When a customer (Charles Laughton in his first feature film) complains of a dirty dish, Valentine discovers the answer to all his problems down in the club’s scullery…

After many years of supporting roles in Hollywood, Anna May Wong left for Europe in search of better roles. And did she find one! Her electric, sexually-charged performance in Piccadilly is a revelation. Wong is mesmerizing as Shosho, the Chinese scullery maid who overnight becomes the toast of London — and the object of sexual desire of all around her. The camera adores Wong, and against Alfred Junge’s astonishing set design, her beauty glows in every frame. Piccadilly was the brilliant apex to Dupont’s trilogy of backstage life (Varieté and Moulin Rouge), showcasing the director’s signature mix of great acting, amazing imagery and astonishing camera movements.

Good romance but not special

Excellent for a movie of its time. I bought it because it starred Anna May Wong. September 5, 2008

Wong Times

Anna May Wong was born in the wrong times. In fifty years she would have been seen in a movie or two, maybe even TV. But her age was one of the "Yellow peril", with lurid novels depicting acts of barbarism and depravity by asiatic peoples. And who's to say they weren't right? Anna was relegated to roles of treachery and deceit, and she played them well. In "Piccadilly" she steals the show from the major stars, cast as a poor scullery maid that is given the opportunity to advance in life. As an exotic Chinese dancer, she grabs her role with gusto. The obstacle to her success is the club owner's girlfriend, a fading dancer and a white woman the movie trys to make the heroine. Yeech! Shosho (Anna) is blatantly stereotyped and relegated to a villianess who seduces the owner of the club. Nobody is too moral in this movie and Anna emerges as the most sympathetic charactor. At least she has the motive of moving up in life. Her expected murder only illustrates the degenerate culture of the late 1920's, and the predjudices of another age. This silent film is almost modern, and has a good soundtrack that doesn't interrupt the show. August 27, 2008

It could only have been better if it had not been silent

This is the kind of film that would have made a great early sound movie. Someone else has mentioned being put off by the score, and I was too. There are two major musical numbers in the film, and it would have really accentuated them to have the music of the times in the film rather than the modern score that just doesn't seem to fit. Unfortunately, British films didn't convert to sound until 1930, so this film remains as a "silent musical".

It's a very good film that is basically about how life goes on, and today's celebrities and scandals are quickly forgotten tomorrow. It also shows the flimsy basis in many cases for being considered talented. The female headliner of the night club is basically there because she is the owner's girlfriend and is being carried to a large degree by her dance partner. When he decides to leave England and try to make it on Broadway, the owner knows the score and seeks a novelty to fill in what he has lost. He sees Anna May Wong's character dancing in the night club scullery and fires her for it, but later he realizes that maybe an exotic act is what he needs to draw an audience. He rehires her as a dancer. He is captivated by both the girl and her act, and at this point the film takes a sharp turn and becomes a bit of a crime drama and mystery.

Anna May Wong is probably the only performer most American audiences will recognize with one fleeting exception. At the beginning of the film there is a heavyset customer of the nightclub who is complaining about a dirty dish. That complaining customer is Charles Laughton in a very small and very early role. June 15, 2008

(4.5 stars) wonderfully fresh British silent film

Fantastic film. I won't repeat what others have said about this film. It is a very refreshing silent. It doesn't drag.
Beautifully shot and so modern with its images. Needless to say, Anna May is so beautiful in this film. Perky, defiant, and exotic. It was wonderful seeing how good a silent film actress she was. Her facial expressions were timeless!
The story had some holes and the picture quality was adequate. There were a few minor scenes with scratches and jumpiness but overall, it was pleasant to watch.
I docked a half star for the really annoying (to me) modern soundtrack that was done for the movie. I really didn't like it. The repeat over and over again of certain songs began to get to me halfway.
otherwise, a classic silent film to be enjoyed especially if you have interest in anna may wong! July 16, 2007

More Anna May Wong Please!

Wait until you see her in that tight skirt, horizontal stripped sweater, beret and rosebud lips. Picadilly was filmed eighty-five years ago and it's silent, but across the gulf of time, Anna May knocked me down with irresistable sensuality. Eyes, gestures, and fashion alone can't explain her allure. She's got "IT". Sorry but you won't see a bare-breasted Anna May in the film. That's a fantasy of the German artist who created the film poster. June 22, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...