Singapore Sue (1932)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This Paramount short isn't a good film but it's certainly a very interesting one for a number of reasons including being able to see a young Cary Grant. In the film four sailors enter a Singapore bar where they're looking for alcohol and women. Sue (Anna Chang) comes to the boy's table and soon she's singing, dancing and showing them a part of Asian song and dance. There are many people who would probably watch this thing and be offended by the portrait of Asians but I'm going to defend what we're seeing here for one major reason. That reason is that while there are certainly some stereotypes here, at least we get real Asian actors playing the parts. Usually we had white actors doing the Asian roles so I was refreshed to see Asians getting to play themselves and that reason alone makes this film worth seeing. There are also some risqué pre-code elements including one where Chang spreads open her dress to reveal to the sailors what lovely legs she has. There's also some brief sexual talk with the sailors making it well known what they're looking for in this bar. Fans of Grant will have to look hard to spot him as he has very little to do. Chang is extremely lively in the part but I do wish that the music had been somewhat better. The songs she performs are decent at best but most of the quality comes from the actress and not the words.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This Paramount short isn't a good film but it's certainly a very interesting one for a number of reasons including being able to see a young Cary Grant. In the film four sailors enter a Singapore bar where they're looking for alcohol and women. Sue (Anna Chang) comes to the boy's table and soon she's singing, dancing and showing them a part of Asian song and dance. There are many people who would probably watch this thing and be offended by the portrait of Asians but I'm going to defend what we're seeing here for one major reason. That reason is that while there are certainly some stereotypes here, at least we get real Asian actors playing the parts. Usually we had white actors doing the Asian roles so I was refreshed to see Asians getting to play themselves and that reason alone makes this film worth seeing. There are also some risqué pre-code elements including one where Chang spreads open her dress to reveal to the sailors what lovely legs she has. There's also some brief sexual talk with the sailors making it well known what they're looking for in this bar. Fans of Grant will have to look hard to spot him as he has very little to do. Chang is extremely lively in the part but I do wish that the music had been somewhat better. The songs she performs are decent at best but most of the quality comes from the actress and not the words.