Join the Chinese American Museum at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 16th, at the historic Pico House (424 N. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012) for a special, colourized screening of The Toll of the Sea (1922). Featured will be exclusive commentary and Q&A courtesy of Anna Wong, niece of Hollywood star Anna May Wong, and Katie Gee Salisbury, author of Not Your China Doll. Watch Anna May Wong in her first leading role and explore her life and legacy beyond film in conversation with experts of the icon.
About the Film:
The Toll of the Sea is a 1922 silent film directed by Chester M. Franklin, produced by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, and distributed by Metro Pictures. The film tells the tale of the young Lotus Flower (played by Anna May Wong) who rescues an American man, Allen Carver (Kenneth Harlan), from the sea during his trip to China. The two fall in love amidst the cherry blossoms, but Carver breaks his promise to bring Lotus Flower to his homeland by ultimately departing alone. By the time the two former lovers meet again, much has changed, and their reunion proves to be more than bittersweet.
About the Speakers:
Anna Wong grew up mere miles from Hollywood, where her aunt, the iconic Asian American film star Anna May Wong, made an unforgettable mark on cinematic history. Although Anna herself never felt a pull towards acting, she has always been inspired by the cultural impact and inclusiveness that her namesake strove to achieve. In her own career—whether she’s representing artists, planning events, producing and developing TV projects, or engaging in philanthropy—Anna is dedicated to raising awareness of Asian American issues and advancing the cause of equality. Anna also serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the Chinese American Museum.
Katie Gee Salisbury is a fifth-generation Chinese American writer and photographer based in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Believer, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and elsewhere. In 2021, she was a finalist for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship and gave the TED Talk “As American as Chop Suey” about her photojournalism project on Chinese restaurant workers in New York. She also authors Half Caste Woman, a newsletter dedicated to sharing research and ruminations about Anna May Wong, and, in 2024, she released her debut biography Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong.
**Unmasking: The Toll of the Sea is in conjunction with the Unmasking Anna May Wong exhibit.
Be sure to visit Unmasking Anna May Wong, CAM’s latest exhibition that honors film legend Anna May Wong. Currently on view until January 26, 2025, the exhibit showcases Wong as a trailblazer that fought racism, discrimination, and stereotyping in the film industry. The exhibit features a variety of objects, ranging from Wong’s personal effects to memorabilia from her films. Learn more about who Anna May Wong was behind the silver screen -- from her childhood in LA Chinatown, to her iconic fashion sense, and her social activism outside of Hollywood.