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

Rating:
Summary: Solid filmography
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A slow student
Review: A slow student hands in his poorly done homework. After his grade is givn back, the student asks for more credit. For what reason? Only becasue he spent triple amount of time than usual.

Rating:
Summary: Career vs Biography
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Very well researched
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide!!!
Review: I love old movies. And I really enjoy reading this kind of book and looking at the pictures. This is an excellent guide to Anna May Wong's work! It's very thorough, well written, and well illustrated with great pictures throughout.

Rating:
Summary: As primary source
Review: If this book was published one year ago, it would have been a useful primary source guide. unfortunately, now that other monographs include all the information in this book in which a researcher would be interested. it is a pity...but it cost me so much money to learn that.

Rating:
Summary: shame?!
Review: If you are members of the intellecutal world, at least you should know that it is very shameful for authors to pretend as readers to defend your books violently?! unless you are below that bottom line. shame!!!

Rating:
Summary: A slow student
Review: slow student hands in his poorly done homework. After his grade is givn back, the student asks for more credit. For what reason? Only becasue he spent triple amount of time than usual.

Rating:
Summary: To Lin Chen
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: Author's reply
Review: 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