Hong Kong: 'The Hub of the Orient' (1937)
This Traveltalk series short takes a look at Hong Kong.
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Best movie of this year hands down!
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
James FitzPatrick must have been on a whirlwind tour of India, Siam, and Hong Kong during the mid 1930s... we see quite a few films made in those places during this time. A fun, quick look at Hong Kong, and the explanation of why it was ruled by Great Britain for all those years. It's even more poignant, since it was just returned to chiner in 1997. A fun, early look at the bazaar, the people, the British, the workers, and of course, the fancy tourist hotel for those with lots of money. Quick stories on how boys and girls are treated differently, as well as why Repulse Bay is so named. Pretty interesting. I always enjoy seeing what cities looked like Waaaaay back when, before the population grew like crazy. Shown on TCM between films.
Hong Kong: The Hub of the Orient (1937) ** 1/2 (out of 4) James A. FitzPatrick's TravelTalks series through MGM continues in this trip to Hong Kong where we learn about their people, customs and their land. The most entertaining aspect of this film is its look at the local fishing communities, which contain some pretty strange "rules" about the women and some neat looks at the things they come up with by using the fish. We see many small shops where the people of Hong Kong try making money and we also learn about how other counties are trying to make a mark there. Whereas a lot of Hong Kong is still old fashioned, new customs are trying to work in to where people can make good for themselves. As is the usual case, the narration is top-notch and we get some beautiful places to look out in all their Technicolor glory.