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Forbidden City, USA

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Although their immigrant parents retained many of the cultural mores of China, the Chinese-Americans in San Francisco of the 1930s and '40s embraced American popular music and culture. Directed by Arthur Dong, this documentary, televised on the PBS series The American Experience, profiles the San Francisco nightclub known as Forbidden City. As a West Coast, Chinatown variation on Harlem's famed Cotton Club, Forbidden City enticed WASP Americans with its "Chinese Sally Rand," "Chinese Sinatra," and "Chinese Sophie Tucker." Highlights include long-lost original recordings and archival filmed performances at the club, as well as photographs, and interviews with people such as the owner, Charlie Low. This film was co-winner of the Hawaii Film Festival's Best Documentary of the Decade.

Critics Reviews

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John Petrakis Chicago Tribune 06/09/2020
3/4
An illuminating look at the once-famous San Francisco nightclub. Go to Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times 05/08/2020
Their recollections are generally light-hearted, but not without a dark strain. Go to Full Review Kenneth R. Clark Chicago Tribune 05/01/2020
Those who stay with it will be rewarded with a rare slice of life as life used to be, before it got so much better, and so much worse. Go to Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl 06/25/2024
8/10
...captures a little-known chapter in American history: the success and then the demise of Chinese-themed nightclubs in San Francisco. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Forbidden City, USA

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Cast & Crew

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Arthur Dong

Director

Noel Toy

Actor

Jadin Wong

Actor
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Forbidden City, USA

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Movie Info

Synopsis Although their immigrant parents retained many of the cultural mores of China, the Chinese-Americans in San Francisco of the 1930s and '40s embraced American popular music and culture. Directed by Arthur Dong, this documentary, televised on the PBS series The American Experience, profiles the San Francisco nightclub known as Forbidden City. As a West Coast, Chinatown variation on Harlem's famed Cotton Club, Forbidden City enticed WASP Americans with its "Chinese Sally Rand," "Chinese Sinatra," and "Chinese Sophie Tucker." Highlights include long-lost original recordings and archival filmed performances at the club, as well as photographs, and interviews with people such as the owner, Charlie Low. This film was co-winner of the Hawaii Film Festival's Best Documentary of the Decade.
Director
Arthur Dong
Distributor
DeepFocus Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 6, 1989, Limited
Runtime
56m