tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post4167736007961977350..comments2024-03-22T14:34:39.101-04:00Comments on MONDO 70: A Wild World of Cinema: Pre-Code Parade: THE HATCHET MAN (1932)Samuel Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-82008573765119118662012-05-23T14:30:46.735-04:002012-05-23T14:30:46.735-04:00Judy, Hatchet Man seemed to have fallen into the &...Judy, Hatchet Man seemed to have fallen into the "grey market" for a time before Warners reasserted its rights. I remember that it was once available for viewing at archive.org, but that's no longer the case. You're probably right about studio logic, which in this case would have a domino effect dictating that Harry would also be played by a white guy. You probably couldn't have an authentic actor play anyone superior or socially equal to Robinson's character either, which would explain why the only genuine Chinese performers play subordinates to Wong, or serve as extras.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-4542980226754297922012-05-21T17:06:39.324-04:002012-05-21T17:06:39.324-04:00Enjoyed your review of this one a lot, Samuel. I s...Enjoyed your review of this one a lot, Samuel. I saw this a while back, sadly in a dire print as TCM in the UK never shows 1930s rarities like this - but glad to have seen it anyway. I agree with you that it has dated badly because of the casting of white actors in yellowface, but also that it is still fascinating to watch nonetheless, both for its links with Wellman's other gangster movies and for Robinson's fine performance in the lead. (I remember someone posted a comment on my review of this film saying that the studios would never cast a white actor opposite a Chinese-American actress and so once Robinson was cast, it was inevitable that the lead actress would be white too - I don't know about the studio policies on this myself, but it sounds all too likely.) In any case, your comment about the film's "somewhat self-conscious struggle with its own stereotyped nature" really hits the nail on the head.Judyhttp://movieclassics.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com