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Moving to Development Heaven
Deleted line(s) 7 (click to see context) :
* DoingItForTheArt: Joseph von Sternberg painted many of the Chinese characters on the railways himself. Additionally Marlene Dietrich's daughter claims that the famous FluffyFashionFeathers outfit came about after the entire Paramount costume department was searched - trying to find the most dramatic thing. Clive Brook also claims the cast were told to talk in rhythm with the wheels.
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Deleted line(s) 1,4 (click to see context) :
* ActorAllusion:
** Marlene Dietrich had played the ex of an officer who became a prostitute in ''Dishonored'' - also directed by Joseph von Sternberg.
** The same film had also cast Warner Oland as a duplicitous villain who Marlene's character offers sex for services.
* ActorSharedBackground: Madeleine can speak French and acts as an interpreter for a French man who can't speak English. Marlene Dietrich was fluent in French in real life too.
** Marlene Dietrich had played the ex of an officer who became a prostitute in ''Dishonored'' - also directed by Joseph von Sternberg.
** The same film had also cast Warner Oland as a duplicitous villain who Marlene's character offers sex for services.
* ActorSharedBackground: Madeleine can speak French and acts as an interpreter for a French man who can't speak English. Marlene Dietrich was fluent in French in real life too.
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
* TheCastShowOff: Anna May Wong could speak both English and Chinese, and does so in the film.
to:
* TheCastShowOff: TheCastShowOff:
** Anna May Wong could speak both English and Chinese, and does so in thefilm.film.
** Marlene Dietrich likewise demonstrates that she can speak French too, when she's required to translate for another passenger.
** Anna May Wong could speak both English and Chinese, and does so in the
** Marlene Dietrich likewise demonstrates that she can speak French too, when she's required to translate for another passenger.
* PlayingWithCharacterType: Anna May Wong was frequently typecast as the DragonLady (having sworn off ever playing one again right before she did this film). Hui Fei is somewhat cunning and [[spoiler: stabs someone in the back with a concealed dagger]], but she's entirely a heroic character
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's bleak and gloomy tone instantly mark it as a 1930s piece - where the themes of identity loss and displacement parallel those of the Great Depression. Madeleine's character is also a remnant of the "European mystique" that Hollywood held for the likes of Creator/MarleneDietrich and Creator/GretaGarbo before her - instantly marking the film as being made before the rise of Nazism in Germany. The fact that the film is so obvious about what Madeleine and Hui Fei [[HighClassCallGirl do for a living]] marks it as being made during UsefulNotes/ThePreCodeEra.
to:
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's bleak and gloomy tone instantly mark it as TypeCasting: Josef von Sternberg had directed Marlene Dietrich in a 1930s piece similar role in ''Dishonored'' - where she played the themes wife of identity loss and displacement parallel those of the Great Depression. Madeleine's character is also an officer who becomes a remnant of the "European mystique" that Hollywood held prostitute. Warner Oland likewise stars in that, as a duplicitous villain she offers sex for the likes of Creator/MarleneDietrich and Creator/GretaGarbo before her - instantly marking the film as being made before the rise of Nazism in Germany. The fact that the film is so obvious about what Madeleine and Hui Fei [[HighClassCallGirl do for a living]] marks it as being made during UsefulNotes/ThePreCodeEra.services to.
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* PopCultureUrbanLegends: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
Changed line(s) 21,22 (click to see context) from:
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's bleak and gloomy tone instantly mark it as a 1930s piece - where the themes of identity loss and displacement parallel those of the Great Depression. Madeleine's character is also a remnant of the "European mystique" that Hollywood held for the likes of Creator/MarleneDietrich and Creator/GretaGarbo before her - instantly marking the film as being made before the rise of Nazism in Germany. The fact that the film is so obvious about what Madeleine and Hui Fei [[HighClassCallGirl do for a living]] marks it as being made during UsefulNotes/ThePreCodeEra.
* UrbanLegends: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
* UrbanLegends: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
to:
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's bleak and gloomy tone instantly mark it as a 1930s piece - where the themes of identity loss and displacement parallel those of the Great Depression. Madeleine's character is also a remnant of the "European mystique" that Hollywood held for the likes of Creator/MarleneDietrich and Creator/GretaGarbo before her - instantly marking the film as being made before the rise of Nazism in Germany. The fact that the film is so obvious about what Madeleine and Hui Fei [[HighClassCallGirl do for a living]] marks it as being made during UsefulNotes/ThePreCodeEra.
* UrbanLegends: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.UsefulNotes/ThePreCodeEra.
* UrbanLegends: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
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None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
to:
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: UrbanLegends: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added line(s) 3 (click to see context) :
* ActorAllusion:
** Marlene Dietrich had played the ex of an officer who became a prostitute in ''Dishonored'' - also directed by Joseph von Sternberg.
** The same film had also cast Warner Oland as a duplicitous villain who Marlene's character offers sex for services.
* ActorSharedBackground: Madeleine can speak French and acts as an interpreter for a French man who can't speak English. Marlene Dietrich was fluent in French in real life too.
** Marlene Dietrich had played the ex of an officer who became a prostitute in ''Dishonored'' - also directed by Joseph von Sternberg.
** The same film had also cast Warner Oland as a duplicitous villain who Marlene's character offers sex for services.
* ActorSharedBackground: Madeleine can speak French and acts as an interpreter for a French man who can't speak English. Marlene Dietrich was fluent in French in real life too.
Added line(s) 3 (click to see context) :
* CaliforniaDoubling: Set in China but filmed on the Santa Fe railroad.
* CastTheExpert: Mandarin-speaking extras were cast as the rebels.
* TheCastShowOff: Anna May Wong could speak both English and Chinese, and does so in the film.
* DoingItForTheArt: Joseph von Sternberg painted many of the Chinese characters on the railways himself. Additionally Marlene Dietrich's daughter claims that the famous FluffyFashionFeathers outfit came about after the entire Paramount costume department was searched - trying to find the most dramatic thing. Clive Brook also claims the cast were told to talk in rhythm with the wheels.
* CastTheExpert: Mandarin-speaking extras were cast as the rebels.
* TheCastShowOff: Anna May Wong could speak both English and Chinese, and does so in the film.
* DoingItForTheArt: Joseph von Sternberg painted many of the Chinese characters on the railways himself. Additionally Marlene Dietrich's daughter claims that the famous FluffyFashionFeathers outfit came about after the entire Paramount costume department was searched - trying to find the most dramatic thing. Clive Brook also claims the cast were told to talk in rhythm with the wheels.
Changed line(s) 3 (click to see context) from:
** The Hays Code were heavily monitoring the portrayal of Reverend Carmichael and insisted on a revision of the script.
to:
** The Hays Code were heavily monitoring the portrayal of Reverend Carmichael and insisted on Carmichael. He was a revision of practicing minister in the script.original draft, but becomes a doctor of divinity in the finished film.
Added DiffLines:
* RealitySubtext: There is a line about Shanghai Lily breaking hundreds of men's hearts - which seems to be a TakeThat by Joseph von Sternberg to Marlene Dietrich's non-exclusive attitude to affairs. The press had labelled her a "love pirate" at the time.
Added DiffLines:
* SleeperHit: A gloomy artsy film that's more about visuals than plot managed to gross $3 million that year (equal to about $55 million in today's money) - and it was the most financially successful of the Sternberg-Dietrich collaborations.
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Changed line(s) 7 (click to see context) from:
** Creator/AnnaMayWong was second generation Chinese, born in California, making her a quasi-example as Hui Fei.
to:
** Creator/AnnaMayWong was second third generation Chinese, born in California, making her a quasi-example as Hui Fei.Fei.
Added DiffLines:
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's bleak and gloomy tone instantly mark it as a 1930s piece - where the themes of identity loss and displacement parallel those of the Great Depression. Madeleine's character is also a remnant of the "European mystique" that Hollywood held for the likes of Creator/MarleneDietrich and Creator/GretaGarbo before her - instantly marking the film as being made before the rise of Nazism in Germany. The fact that the film is so obvious about what Madeleine and Hui Fei [[HighClassCallGirl do for a living]] marks it as being made during UsefulNotes/ThePreCodeEra.
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None
Added DiffLines:
* BannedInChina: Briefly. The ban was lifted after Paramount promised to never make a film about Chinese politics again.
* ExecutiveMeddling:
** The Hays Code were heavily monitoring the portrayal of Reverend Carmichael and insisted on a revision of the script.
** Subverted in another case. They protested against a line where Chang says he's ashamed of his white half, but it remains in the film.
* FakeNationality:
** Warner Oland as a Chinese man. He's written to be half-white to HandWave it.
** Creator/AnnaMayWong was second generation Chinese, born in California, making her a quasi-example as Hui Fei.
* ProductionPosse: The fourth collaboration between Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich.
* RomanceOnTheSet: Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich were having an affair during filming, despite both being married at the time.
* TroubledProduction: Tension was running high between Joseph von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich - the former feeling frustrated at the latter's casual attitude towards sex (she was apparently hooking up with Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier as well). He wanted to end their partnership, but she wouldn't work with anyone else. On set he apparently shouted so much that he lost his voice, resulting in him hooking up a PA system to the sound-stages. Due to his perfectionist way of shooting, he ended up doing most of the cinematography himself, even though Lee Garmes won an Oscar for the cinematography. Not helping matters was his estranged wife suing Marlene Dietrich just after filming began for "alienation of affections", though this was dropped.
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
* ExecutiveMeddling:
** The Hays Code were heavily monitoring the portrayal of Reverend Carmichael and insisted on a revision of the script.
** Subverted in another case. They protested against a line where Chang says he's ashamed of his white half, but it remains in the film.
* FakeNationality:
** Warner Oland as a Chinese man. He's written to be half-white to HandWave it.
** Creator/AnnaMayWong was second generation Chinese, born in California, making her a quasi-example as Hui Fei.
* ProductionPosse: The fourth collaboration between Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich.
* RomanceOnTheSet: Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich were having an affair during filming, despite both being married at the time.
* TroubledProduction: Tension was running high between Joseph von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich - the former feeling frustrated at the latter's casual attitude towards sex (she was apparently hooking up with Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier as well). He wanted to end their partnership, but she wouldn't work with anyone else. On set he apparently shouted so much that he lost his voice, resulting in him hooking up a PA system to the sound-stages. Due to his perfectionist way of shooting, he ended up doing most of the cinematography himself, even though Lee Garmes won an Oscar for the cinematography. Not helping matters was his estranged wife suing Marlene Dietrich just after filming began for "alienation of affections", though this was dropped.
* UrbanLegendOfZelda: There were rumours that Marlene Dietrich and Creator/AnnaMayWong were having an affair, due to the intense chemistry between them. While they were good friends, there is no actual evidence of an affair.
