*WU LI CHANG (MR. WU) (1930) MGM's Spanish Version of Lon Chaney's Silent Film

Description: Vintage original 8x10 in. single-weight glossy photograph from the Spanish language sound drama, WU LI CHANG, released in 1930 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and co-directed by Carlos F. Borcosque and Nick Grinde. Based upon the play by Salvador de Alberich, Frances Marion, and Harold Owen, the great love of widower Wu Li Chang (Ernesto Vilchez), a man of considerable culture, wealth and power in China, is his daughter, Nang Ping (Angelita Benítez), who, following tradition, has been promised in marriage to a mandarin. Ridiculing her father's vigilance, Nang Ping escapes from his palace and falls in love with Alfredo Gregory (José Crespo), an English gentleman, who wants to marry her. When Wu discovers this, he feels compelled to sacrifice the lives of the two lovers to appease the gods. With a broken heart, he kills his beloved daughter and, determined to fulfill the divine command, arranges a meeting with Gregory's mother (Marcela Nivón), who offers her own life in place of her son's. Prepared to kill herself, she pours a powerful poison into a cup of tea which she will drink in Mr. Wu's presence. However, suspecting that she is trying to kill him, Wu switches his tea with hers and dies in horrible pain. The image is from the key scene near the film's climax as Mrs. Gregory (Marcela Nivón), prepared to kill herself to save her son, has poured a powerful poison into a cup of tea which she will drink in Mr. Wu's (Ernesto Vilchez) presence. However, suspecting that she is trying to kill him, Wu reaches out to switch his tea with hers and will die in horrible pain. It is in fine- condition with a light 5 in. diagonal crease in the left half of the image (that does not affect the actors' faces); a small tear in the top half of the left border; and scattered small creases and a few scratches from handling over time. There are no pinholes, stains, writing, or other flaws. Mr. Wu was originally a West End stage play at the Strand Theatre starring the Canadian actor Matheson Lang, who subsequently starred in a 1919 British film version, which shows Lang in elaborate mandarin drag as Wu Li Chang, sporting a very unconvincing makeup job on his Occidental features. Matheson Lang remained linked to this role for the rest of his life, so much so that he titled his memoir "Mr Wu Looks Back." Although the play is now very nearly forgotten, it still lingers in one remnant of Britain's culture. To this day, British comedians continue to do a piece of business in which a bizarre-looking individual is greeted with the catchphrase "Mister Wu! How DO you DOOO?" And there's also George Formby's song, "Mr Wu's a Window-Washer Now". Frances Marion's screenplay in Salvador de Alberich's Spanish version is based on Mr. Wu, a play by Henry Maurice Vernon and Harold Owen (New York, 14 October 1914). It was a sound remake in Spanish of Mister Wu, a silent film directed by William Nigh starring Lon Chaney. The film, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), was shot in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios at 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City. For the sound, the Western Electric Sound System was used. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the film premiered on October 31, 1930 in Los Angeles, and was released in US cinemas on December 18, 1930. In Spain, screened in Madrid, it was released on February 11, 1931. In Portugal, like Mr. Wu, it was released on May 16, 1932.

Price: 75 USD

Location: Valley Village, California

End Time: 2025-02-02T22:42:32.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD