Finally restored and released on DVD, the 1929 silent film Piccadilly may get the attention it deserved when originally snubbed at the onset of the sound era. Even without spoken dialogue it shouts for attention. Elaborate and glitzy sets, extravagant costumes, and an enthusiastic cast all demand our attention. But they all bow down to the leading lady, a humble Chinese dishwasher played by Anna May Wong who finagles her way to the top of this glittery world. As expected for a silent film, the emotive acting is way over the top. Each exaggerated arched eyebrow is as comical as it is supposed to be dramatic, which only adds to the fun of it all. A lot about Piccadilly surprised me: the choice of a non-Caucasian leading vixen for the time period (and the minimal use of her “exotic” nature as a plot element), the overt sexuality, and the dark nature of the supposed heroine, just to pick a few. The best surprise is that instead of being a campy nostalgia trip, it’s really as rich and deliciously twisted as anything released today.

There are no comments yet. You could be the first!