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

Rating:
Summary: In answer to shang
Review: 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'?

Rating:
Summary: A guide to primary source that came out too late
Review: This is a guide to primary source for Anna May Wong researchers. if it had came out one year ago, it could have been helpful. now that other two monographs are already out, it is hard for readers to find this book useful since the other books covered basically all the information. it is a pity that this book came out so late. It costed me $45 to learn this!!!

Rating:
Summary: Costly, but full of information
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Reply to "Shang"
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Reply to "Shang"
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: what do readers need?
Review: What readers need are a story, which requires the skill to analyze, and insight into facts and information. what is the use of piling up all the information there? only researchers who do the story, not the general audience, need your collections of films, radios, etc..., which requires no more than manual labor. if the other biographies are intelligient scholars, this guide to sources is at most an archivist or collectors. do people learn from scholars or archivist or collectors? if this book is as valuable as you said, then the most valuable knowledge producer in the world is librarian or archivist who organize information.

Rating:
Summary: What readers need?
Review: 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.

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Summary: Authors or readers? *_^
Review: ~For a while, I mistakened the other readers for the authors of the book, due to their unsual violent defense of the book. Now I realize the other responses are actually signed by other readers, even from various regions. (*_&) whether you are readers or authors,keep the book and enjoy, since you love it so desperately. I just sold mine for $5. Although I want more, the old book dealer said it does not worth much. But I am keeping Prof. Chan's book, which the family likes too. As a real reader, I~~ do not have interest in this kind of conversation as more since I know "mothers always love her babies." good bye and good luck! (if you leave more messages, I guess the readers will be exclusively yourselves.)~