Warner Oland was a Swedish actor who attributed his slightly Asian appearance to his Russian grandmother who was of Mongolian descent. Oland is, of course, most famous for playing Charlie Chan in 20th-Century-Fox's highly successful film franchise until his death in 1938. Daughter of the Dragon (1931) was the third and final film where Oland played the title character. He also played Fu in a skit in Paramount on Parade (1930). Oland would sign with Fox Pictures soon after this film and begin his long association with Earl Derr Biggers's famous character, the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan. Before he played Chan, Oland made a career out of playing different nationalities from Chinese to Japanese to Russian. He even played Al Jolson's disapproving rabbi father in The Jazz Singer (1927). The majority of his roles were as Asians.
Anna May Wong, who plays Princess Ling Moy, was born in Los Angeles in 1905 and against the wishes of her very conservative family, had been in films since 1919. She was the most popular Asian actor of her time and was constantly mentioned as one of Hollywood's most beautiful and best-dressed women. She only appeared in 17 sound films and only a handful of those as the star. Anna May Wong deserves to be seen. And remembered.
Paramount also spent a thousand dollars, far more than the costume costs of any other player, for Anna May Wong's elaborate Chinese gowns.
Olaf Hytten plays Flinders the butler in Daughter of the Dragon (1931) and would play Dr. Flinders Petrie in Drums of Fu Manchu (1940).
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