Critical Dissonance: For the critics of the time, Mandalay was no better than your run-of-the-mill B-Movie. Especially, since Francis, maliciously nicknamed "box office poison" had the lead role. The audience held it in much better regard, to the point of the film becoming extremely profitable for its studio.
Nick, the pimp and owner of the "Jardin d'Orient", is supposedly native to British India, now a conglomerate of countries in Southeast Asia. The actor who plays Nick is Warner Oland, a white, American man.
Fake Russian: Tanya Bodoroff is a Russian refugee living in British India. The actress who plays her, Kay Francis, is American. Katya Sergova, of Russian ascent, was considered for the role to avoid this. Alas, Francis proved to be a better fit for the role.
Playing Against Type: Kay Francis was almost always cast for light-hearted comedies, soap-operas, and melodramas. The reason for that is that she possessed a unique chic yet elegant air. The only exceptions are four drama films, including Mandalay.
Vindicated by History: When it dug out Mandalay, Turner Classic Movies gave it a very positive review. TCM highlighted the actors' on-spot performances (especially that of Kay Francis) and the film's artistry. The way Mandalay recreates the torrid, exotic underworld of Rangoon. The jump from Tony's drowning body to a shot of Tanya's beatific face after she disembarks. How Mrs. Peters calls out society on slut-shaming and double standards when it comes to women. The range of emotions Francis lays out as Tanya as she falls and then rises despite her circumstances. All in all, TCM praises this feature as more than a well-executed B-Movie but a rightful classic.
Written-In Infirmity: Lyle Talbot had an accident before the film's production began, so the writers had to tweak an In-Universe reason for his head bandage. In the film, his characters does that to himself because he's The Alcoholic.
. TCM highlighted the actors' on-spot performances (especially that of Kay Francis) and the film's artistry. The way Mandalay recreates the torrid, exotic underworld of Rangoon. The jump from Tony's drowning body to a shot of Tanya's beatific face after she disembarks. How Mrs. Peters calls out society on slut-shaming and double standards when it comes to women. The range of emotions Francis lays out as Tanya as she falls and then rises despite her circumstances. All in all, TCM praises this feature as more than a well-executed B-Movie but a rightful classic.