Race in Silent Film: Yellowface

Much to modern surprise not much is said of yellowface. Nothing will put you on the shit list faster than using blackface (ask Al Jolson) while using yellowface seems to go unnoticed in the annals of history (ask Myrna Loy). Much like blackface, yellow face was an exaggerated way of showing Asians in film. Unlike blackface the practice was much more accepted and used much longer.

Climate of the Time

*It was illegal for a non white to marry a white

*Production Codes forbid interracial love portrayals, the Hays Code later made it a standard rule

*The Chinese Exclusion Act made it illegal for Chinese to immigrate to America between 1885 and 1943. In the West Chinese were seen as 'taking all the jobs and land' and strong anti Chinese sentiment was created due to this.

*The Chinese Exclusion Act also made all American citizens of Chinese descent (even 2nd, 3rd generation, etc) 'permanent aliens' revoking their US citizenship. If they travelled outside the country special visas and permits were needed; it was extremely hard to travel especially for Chinese men

*In 1902 harsher restrictions were applied, with a certificate of 'citizenship' needing to be obtained. Lengthy interviews and tests were given to determine all the rules had been followed. If one did not have the proper certificates they could be deported...even if they had been born in the US.

*In 1924 the Immigration Act made it impossible for Chinese to immigrate at all and extended the racism to other Asian countries as well. Beyond Asians, Indians and Arabs were also included to certain extents

*The original act was repealed in 1943, but it took until the mid 60s for all the restrictions to be lifted. It was the only act to ever deny immigration on the basis of race.

*In 1913 the "Alien Land law" was passed...'Asian Aliens' could no longer own property. It wasn't repealed until the 40s as well.

*In the early 1900s Hearst papers perpetrated a 'Yellow Peril' myth. By the 1920s Asian lynchings were on the rise.

*Asians were seen as 'inherently different' unable to 'integrate' to the Western way of life. Combined with yellow peril these views were wide spread at the time.

*During the early 1940s Japanese Americans were interred in 'internment camps'. This fact was hid for many years and only recently have some began to receive compensation and acknowledgement

What if Yellowface?

While blackface simply stuck to darkening the skin and exaggerating the lip line yellow face went way further. Particular types of white were sought out (Irish American Myrna Loy was the 'go to Asian girl' of the late 20s/early 30s). Before technicolor the actual shade wasn't so important; though a little 'yellowing' had to have been used.

Yellowface actually focused more on the 'features'. Caucasian eyes were pulled to the sides to give a 'slanted' look which also would pull up the cheekbones a bit. In some instances fake buck teeth were used (to give a umm...more cartoony look) though this was more a men then women thing. A wig was usually utilized with black hair pulled up into a bun with some decoration used. More then anything yellowface was the give a 'white version' of Asian stereotypes...trust me its as bad as it sounds.

Characterizations

Blackface had it bad, yellowface to some extent might have had it worse. While blackface stereotypes utilized childish, superstitious, idiotic and silly behavior, Yellowface not only followed suite but also went the opposite route. There was the silly Asian sidekick, with the buck teeth and 'rs' in place of 'ls'. Mickey Rooney in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" anyone? Of course during the silents it was more focused on the other half: the conniving evil Asian. Someone with deep mysticism and scheming ways. Murder and opium were favorites.

Dragon lady was another popular one. The sexually available/loose Asian woman who dared to try and be with the white man. Of course she always died or killed herself by the end (ask Anna May Wong).

Unlike blackface the right gender usually played the right part. However it was almost always undeniably a white person, in yellowface in the lead...with an authentic Asian in a stereotypical supporting role. Blackface did this to a lesser extent but it was extremely widespread in Asian themed films.

Why was it popular?

Unlike blackface there wasn't a long tradition behind yellowface. During the mid teens to mid 20s 'Orientalism' was all the rage. For some reason this term not only applied to various Asian countries but Arabic countries as well (The Sheik, Young Rajah, and The Toll of the Sea would all fall under this banner). Several literary traditions probably helped this, especially as film transitioned from nickelodeon to early features.

Interestingly enough it also probably owes something to early Asian actors. Sessue Hayakawa (Japanese) and Anna May Wong (Chinese American) were both extremely popular, and vehicles suiting them did well. Unfortunately they didn't have much say, as will be said below in a bit.

Why was it used?

Blackface liked the claim that there weren't enough black actors to take the black parts. Though that doesn't appear to be true it definitely is not the case in yellowface. Sessue Hayakawa rose to prominence in 1914. Anna May Wong rose in 1922. Both were popular well into the late 20s (and in Anna's case on and off through the next few decades in various ways). Not to mention the various Asian communities around California...thus definitely meaning authentic Asians could not only be used but star as well.

Unfortunately it was as was always the case: pure and simple racism. It was just as taboo for an Asian to be with a white as a black with a white, and the Hays Code (and earlier codes) prevented portraying this. Due to the popularity of the actors both Anna and Sessue would be given various white onscreen love interests...but always with consequences. In all but a few of her films Anna was murdered or killed herself by the end of the movie. This was a way to make it all right...make it a moral: interracial romance is bad mmkay. Unfortunately to this day it really hasn't been done away with...Lucy Lui and Jackie Chan aside name me an Asian leading actor who is on par with Will Smith or Nicole Kidman.

Second Class

Due to all that despite their star status Asian actors found themselves more and more regulated with time. Anna had several vehicles that should have given her leading lady status (Toll of the Sea, Thief of Baghdad, Piccadilly, etc) but she was constantly time and time again given the supporting role, while a white person in yellowface played the lead. When Luise Rainer was given the role of O-Lan in "The Good Earth" that is when Anna mostly gave up with the Hollywood film system...they had once again wanted her to play a small supporting role, while a German American actress got the lead as an Asian woman.

A prime example of this is the film "Daughter of the Dragon" made in 1931. Anna made $6,000 for her role, Sessue made $10,000, and Walter Oland (who played in yellowface) made $12,000...and he was only in the film for 23 minutes! Needless to say the studios didn't think too highly of there Asian actors.

The Studios themselves are partly to blame. Time and time again in Anna's career she was told she was 'too Asian' for Asian parts. It was believed someone like Myrna Loy in yellowface looked more 'screen Asian'...whatever the hell that was supposed to mean.

The Shit list

Ironically unlike blackface, yet just as offensive, yellowface isn't all that crucified these days. Several people starred in yellowface...ironically including Mary Pickford (thank God she did everything but blackface...or she'd be crucified too!)

Some of the better known examples are of course Myrna Loy and Boris Karloff. Neither of their careers were affected by it. Lon Chaney, Warner Oland, and Richard Barthelmess all had their moments as well...and all were never slighted for it.

In fact its interesting just how many notable people (especially in talkies) gave performances in yellowface and were never given much hell for it. Edward G Robinson and Loretta Young, Peter Lorre, Anthony Quinn, Katherine Hepburn, Fred Astaire, John Wayne, Yul Brynner, Shirley MacLaine, and even more recently Rob Schneider and Eddie Murphy!!!

In fact the only one person to ever get hell for yellowface was Mickey Rooney. To this day he apologizes for his performance...but he seems to be the only person slighted for it in the mainstream press. Does that make any sense vs what people have done to Al Jolson?

In fact whats even ODDER is the fact that the yellowface offenders have gotten off so easily; while for many decades (and to a lesser extent even still today) Anna May Wong was seen as a stereotypical dragon lady, acting out stereotypical roles and to blame for all the yellowface stereotypes...the very things she fought so hard against. That would be like blaming Evelyn Preer for all blackface stereotypes ever...is that even remotely right?

Ramifications

Unlike blackface...there haven't been a lot of ramifications. A Chinese film production company was attempted in the mid 1920s, 'Chinese Six Companies'. Anna May Wong starred in one of their films, "The Silk Bouquet" in 1926, later rereleased as "The Dragon Horse". Its now a lost film but was much like Oscar's films made for Chinese by Chinese with an all Asian cast.

In 1924 Anna started "The Anna May Wong Production Company" intending to bring Chinese myths to the screen. However her business partner was crooked and the company was dissolved before anything had ever happened. She spent many years trying to reverse stereotypes...including a 1950s TV series (all lost) "The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong" about an Asian museum worker who is a detective on the side.

Sessue was a little more successful. In 1918, tired of being stereotyped by Lasky, he created his own production company "Haworth Pictures Corporation". Over the next 3 years he made 23 films and made about $2 million a year. He is usually credited as helping influence American views of Asians for the better...despite some early rapey films (The Cheat). Odd he isn't slighted but Anna is. He suffered through the 1930s due to accent and well...the rise of anti Japanese sentiment (oddly something Anna would later help...Japan wasn't so nice to China during the 30s and 40s).

Despite this an all Asian American film industry never really rose to prominence. Asians have been largely ignored in film since, and much like silents they have still been shown in the most stereotypical of ways (such as Kung Fu movies). Hopefully this will continue to change...probably slowly (if it took 80s years to get HERE well...)

Notable Asian Actors and Filmmakers of the Silent Era:

*Anna May Wong (Chinese American)

*Sessue Hayakawa (Japanese)

*Tsuru Aoki (Japanese, married to Sessue)

*Philip Ahn (Korean American)

*Yasujirō Ozu (Japanese, in fairness only famous in Japan)