Mr. Wu
Encyclopedia
Mr. Wu is a 1927 silent movie
about a Chinese patriarch who tries to exact revenge on the Englishman who seduced his daughter.
As Mr. Wu's daughter, Nang Ping, emerges into womanhood, he arranges a marriage for her with a mandarin. A lively, spirited girl, she has been educated by her father's old tutor. Despite the seclusion of her father's palace, she meets and falls in love with Basil Gregory, a young Englishman. His father is a diplomat who does not respect Chinese ways and insults the "damned Chinks" to their faces, although the rest of his family is courteous.
Basil later informs Nang Ping that he must return to Britain with his family, but she surprises him with the revelation that she carries his child. Later, Basil indicates he indeed wants to marry her, but she then claims she was merely trying to establish if he was an "honorable man," and reveals she is already engaged in an arranged marriage. Via a nosy gardener, Nang Ping's father discovers the relationship.
While Wu agonizingly peruses his culture's ancient writings, he comes to the conclusion that a dishonored daughter must "die by the hand of her father." Despite his great tenderness and love for her, he interprets customary Chinese law as grimly necessitating Nang Ping's execution. Father and daughter bid each other a tearful goodbye, she asks him to spare her lover, indicating that would make death less painful and less meaningless for her. She then obediently retreats to the home's central shrine. The last scene of that act concludes as the curtain dramatically drops over the profile of Wu lifting his sword high above his daughter's prostrate form.
Wu then goes about exacting revenge on the Gregory family, whom he feels is responsible for the "dishonor" and subsequent death of his daughter. He invites Mrs. Gregory and her daughter to his home and tricks the daughter into going into Nang Ping's room, immediately locking her in, imprisoning her on the room's raised outdoor terrace. He has Basil tied up in an adjacent garden, flanked by an axe-wielding servant. By sunset, Mrs. Gregory has the choice of either condemning her son to death or her daughter to prostitution. She says there is another way and offers her own life. Wu explains that this is not the custom in China; the parents are obliged to live on and bear the shame. Nonetheless, Mrs. Gregory continues to insist Wu take her life instead of those of her children, and in an ensuing struggle, Mrs. Gregory stabs Wu with a knife from a nearby desk, thus freeing herself, and ultimately, her daughter and Basil. Wu staggers to strike the gong to signal that Basil should be killed anyway, but a vision of Nang Ping appears, shaking her head and imploring her father with outstretched arms. Pursuing the ghostly image into the hall, Wu dies and is found by his old friend and tutor, who picks up Wu's prayer beads and says "Thus passes the House of Wu."
Mr. Wu was originally a stage play, written by Harold Owen and Harry M. Vernon. It was first staged in London in 1913; the first U.S. production opened in New York
on October 14, 1914 with stage star Walker Whiteside
playing Wu. The actor Frank Morgan
was in the original Broadway cast, appearing under his original name Frank Wupperman.
The first actor to portray Mr. Wu (in the 1913 West End production) was Canadian-born English actor Matheson Lang
, who became so popular in the role that he starred in a 1919 film version. (The better-known Lon Chaney production is therefore a remake.) Lang continued to play Asian roles (although not exclusively), and his autobiography was titled Mr. Wu Looks Back (1940).
In his film version, for the hundred-year-old look, Chaney build up his cheekbones and lips with cotton and rigid collodion. His nostrils were stuffed with cotton and the ends of cigar holders, and his long fingernails were constructed from strips of painted film stock. Fish skin was used to affect an epicanthal fold to his eyes and grey crepe hair was used to create his mustache and goatee. The make-up procedures took from four to six hours to apply.
Wu Li Chang, a Spanish-language version of Mr. Wu, was produced in 1930.
In 2000, Turner Classic Movies
presented the television premiere with a music soundtrack composed, produced, edited and mixed by Maria Newman, who also conducted the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony.
The character of Mr. Wu has remained more popular in Britain than in America, to the extent of engendering other cultural references, such as George Formby's comedy song "Mister Wu's a Window-Washer Now". In British panto
comedies, which often rely on material familiar to the audience from previous productions, a perennially popular joke occurs when the comedian is confronted by a large fearsome villain of flamboyant appearance. Instead of being frightened, the comedian greets the villain familiarly: "Mister WU! How DO you DO?"
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
about a Chinese patriarch who tries to exact revenge on the Englishman who seduced his daughter.
Cast
- Lon ChaneyLon Chaney, Sr.Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
- Mr. Wu/Grandfather Wu - Louise DresserLouise DresserLouise Dresser was an American actress.Born Louise Josephine Kerlin in Evansville, Indiana. Her father was a train conductor who died when she was fifteen years old...
- Mrs. Gregory - Renee AdoreeRenée AdoréeRenée Adorée was a French actress who had appeared in Hollywood silent movies during the 1920s.-Early life:...
- Wu Nang Ping - Holmes HerbertHolmes HerbertHolmes Herbert was an English character actor who appeared in Hollywood films from 1915 to 1952.Born as 'Horace Jenner', Holmes Herbert emigrated to the United States in 1912. He was the first son of Ned Herbert , who worked as and actor/comedian in the English Theatre...
- Mr. Gregory - Ralph ForbesRalph ForbesrightRalph Forbes was an English actor in the American cinema. He was also a noted stage actor....
- Basil Gregory - Gertrude OlmsteadGertrude OlmsteadGertrude Olmstead was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929.-Career:...
- Hilda Gregory - Mrs. Wong Wing - Ah Wong
- Claude KingClaude King (actor)Claude King was an English-born American character actor. With his distinctive wavy hair King appeared on both stage and screen. Began his stage career in his native UK before emigrating to the US. In 1919 he appeared on Broadway in support of Ethel Barrymore in the play Declassee...
- Mr. James Muir - Sonny Loy - Little Wu
- Anna May WongAnna May WongAnna May Wong was an American actress, the first Chinese American movie star, and the first Asian American to become an international star...
- Loo Song - Toshia MoriToshia MoriToshia Mori was a Japanese born actress, who had a brief career in American films during the 1930s. Born as Toshia Ichioka in Kyoto, Mori moved to the United States when she was ten years old....
- Nang Ping's friend (*billed as Toshia Ichioka)
Synopsis
In the prologue, Chaney plays Grandfather Wu, entrusting his grandson's education to a trusted English associate, stating "The West is coming to the East. He [my heir] must be prepared for both." Chaney also plays the part of the grandson as a young man who enters an arranged marriage with a delicate girl who dies after giving birth to a daughter. Wu swears he will raise the child as a daughter and a son.As Mr. Wu's daughter, Nang Ping, emerges into womanhood, he arranges a marriage for her with a mandarin. A lively, spirited girl, she has been educated by her father's old tutor. Despite the seclusion of her father's palace, she meets and falls in love with Basil Gregory, a young Englishman. His father is a diplomat who does not respect Chinese ways and insults the "damned Chinks" to their faces, although the rest of his family is courteous.
Basil later informs Nang Ping that he must return to Britain with his family, but she surprises him with the revelation that she carries his child. Later, Basil indicates he indeed wants to marry her, but she then claims she was merely trying to establish if he was an "honorable man," and reveals she is already engaged in an arranged marriage. Via a nosy gardener, Nang Ping's father discovers the relationship.
While Wu agonizingly peruses his culture's ancient writings, he comes to the conclusion that a dishonored daughter must "die by the hand of her father." Despite his great tenderness and love for her, he interprets customary Chinese law as grimly necessitating Nang Ping's execution. Father and daughter bid each other a tearful goodbye, she asks him to spare her lover, indicating that would make death less painful and less meaningless for her. She then obediently retreats to the home's central shrine. The last scene of that act concludes as the curtain dramatically drops over the profile of Wu lifting his sword high above his daughter's prostrate form.
Wu then goes about exacting revenge on the Gregory family, whom he feels is responsible for the "dishonor" and subsequent death of his daughter. He invites Mrs. Gregory and her daughter to his home and tricks the daughter into going into Nang Ping's room, immediately locking her in, imprisoning her on the room's raised outdoor terrace. He has Basil tied up in an adjacent garden, flanked by an axe-wielding servant. By sunset, Mrs. Gregory has the choice of either condemning her son to death or her daughter to prostitution. She says there is another way and offers her own life. Wu explains that this is not the custom in China; the parents are obliged to live on and bear the shame. Nonetheless, Mrs. Gregory continues to insist Wu take her life instead of those of her children, and in an ensuing struggle, Mrs. Gregory stabs Wu with a knife from a nearby desk, thus freeing herself, and ultimately, her daughter and Basil. Wu staggers to strike the gong to signal that Basil should be killed anyway, but a vision of Nang Ping appears, shaking her head and imploring her father with outstretched arms. Pursuing the ghostly image into the hall, Wu dies and is found by his old friend and tutor, who picks up Wu's prayer beads and says "Thus passes the House of Wu."
Background
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 14, 1914 with stage star Walker Whiteside
Walker Whiteside
Walker Whiteside was an American actor who had played Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Shylock while still in his teens.-Early life:...
playing Wu. The actor Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the title character in the film The Wizard of Oz.-Early life:...
was in the original Broadway cast, appearing under his original name Frank Wupperman.
The first actor to portray Mr. Wu (in the 1913 West End production) was Canadian-born English actor Matheson Lang
Matheson Lang
Matheson Alexander Lang was a Canadian-born stage and film actor and playwright in the early 20th century. He is best remembered for his performances roles in Great Britain in Shakespeare plays.-Biography:...
, who became so popular in the role that he starred in a 1919 film version. (The better-known Lon Chaney production is therefore a remake.) Lang continued to play Asian roles (although not exclusively), and his autobiography was titled Mr. Wu Looks Back (1940).
In his film version, for the hundred-year-old look, Chaney build up his cheekbones and lips with cotton and rigid collodion. His nostrils were stuffed with cotton and the ends of cigar holders, and his long fingernails were constructed from strips of painted film stock. Fish skin was used to affect an epicanthal fold to his eyes and grey crepe hair was used to create his mustache and goatee. The make-up procedures took from four to six hours to apply.
Wu Li Chang, a Spanish-language version of Mr. Wu, was produced in 1930.
In 2000, Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
presented the television premiere with a music soundtrack composed, produced, edited and mixed by Maria Newman, who also conducted the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony.
The character of Mr. Wu has remained more popular in Britain than in America, to the extent of engendering other cultural references, such as George Formby's comedy song "Mister Wu's a Window-Washer Now". In British panto
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
comedies, which often rely on material familiar to the audience from previous productions, a perennially popular joke occurs when the comedian is confronted by a large fearsome villain of flamboyant appearance. Instead of being frightened, the comedian greets the villain familiarly: "Mister WU! How DO you DO?"