Forbidden City, U.S.A. (1989)
A documentary about Forbidden City, a San Francisco Chinese-American nightclub open from the 1930s to the 1960s.
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I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
East meets West in this lively documentary about the first all-Chinese nightclub in America and some of the personalities who brought it to life: Larry Ching and Paul Wing (the Chinese Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire, respectively, quoting the club's own promotional ads), owner Charlie Low, and Toy Yat Mar (the Chinese Sophie Tucker), among others. The film works on several levels: as an insider's guide to a rarely seen aspect of show business; as a valuable local San Francisco history lesson; as big band nostalgia; and most of all as a cultural study exploring some of the attitudes, ironies, and misconceptions surrounding the Chinese American community, people who by definition are racially Chinese but culturally American. Director Arthur Dong has assembled a wealth of material: rare documentary footage; obscure excerpts from old Hollywood movies; and a rollicking background of 1940s swing music. But the best thing about the film is its many interviews: beyond being informative, each character tells a fascinating and touching story.