This film is made great by the presence of Anna May Wong and some B actors of the period. She holds up this film from beginning to end with a bravado performance (certainly one worthy of a nomination). But the 1930s was a different world. Chinese actresses didnt get nominations for great performances; they didnt even get roles custom-made for Chinese actresses, like the lead in The Good Earth, which would have been even better with Wong in the lead. Even though Louise Rainer won the Oscar that year, and turned in a wonderful performance, Wong would have been perfect for the role of a lifetime. This film is your usual triangle, but with a few twists. Wong must face all the prejudices of Western society that considered her a savage, when it was actually the other way around. The film is also a tragedy, as well as a soap, but I will not reveal why. A top Wong performance.
Review of Java Head
