NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (June 2023): Kino have transferred three 1930's Anna May Wong films to Blu-ray. Dangerous to Know (1938), King of Chinatown (1939) and Island of Lost Men (1939) are part of The Anna May Wong Collection - three single-layered Blu-ray package. The transfers are cited as being from "Brand New 4K and 2K Masters". There are rounded corners and slightly frayed edges of the frame. They are 1.33:1 with King of Chinatown having deep rich black levels but even with the other two films - Dangerous to Know and Island of Lost Men - looking paler - they looked fine on my system. There was frame-specific damage (see below) that I only saw a handful of times. These 1080P transfers looked quite pleasing to me with consistent textures. 

NOTE: We have added 146 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. There are a few aggressive scenes that export modest depth. On Dangerous to Know there is stock music credited to Friedrich Hollaender (The Man in Search of His Murderer, The Bride Wore Boots, Bluebeard's Eight Wife, Angel, The Great McGinty, Christmas in Connecticut, Caught, Berlin Express, Background to Danger, The Verdict, A Foreign Affair.) and John Leipold (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Christmas in July, The Devil is a Woman, The Flying Deuces, Duck Soup.) On King of Chinatown the music is credited to Gerard Carbonara (Among the Living, Union Pacific, The Monster and the Girl, Dr. Cyclops, Abilene Town) and Leipold. On  Island of Lost Men the music is by Victor Young (The Accused, Strategic Air Command, The Ghost Breakers, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate etc.) and Leipold (again.) The audio reflects the production era - imperfect (a bit hollow) but without egregious flaws. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary for each of the three films. On Dangerous to Know by Film Historian Samm Deighan. She discusses racism, director Robert Florey who worked with Louis Feuillade, the Edgar Wallace novel (play "On the Spot"), Anna May Wong, Akim Tamiroff, the appearance of Hedda Hopper in the film etc. She feels Dangerous to Know needs a re-appraisal. The commentary for King of Chinatown by author/film historian David Del Valle and archivist/film historian Stan Shaffer. David believes that Akim Tamiroff may have been the proto-type for Boris Badenov of Rocky and Bullwinkle. They discuss how Tamiroff was a personal friend and oft-collaborator of Orson Welles who praised him as "the greatest of all screen actors." They talk about Anna May Wong as dignified Dr. Mary Ling in the film - representing Margaret “Mom” Chung - the first Chinese American woman to become a physician. The audio commentary for Island of Lost Men by entertainment journalists / authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry. They read a few bios of the participants including Anna May Wong, Broderick Crawford, Anthony Quinn and others highlighting the most interesting facts. There is also a theatrical trailer - a nitrate restoration in 4K - of King of Chinatown. 

Kino's The Anna May Wong Collection Blu-ray package (I hope is Volume #1 of many) with Dangerous to Know (1938), King of Chinatown (1939) and Island of Lost Men (1939) was wonderful start to be exposed to this iconic actress - considered the first Chinese-American film star in Hollywood. Her stage name - 'Anna May Wong' - was formed by joining both her English and family names. She appeared in over sixty films. Her career was constrained by American anti-miscegenation laws that enforced racial segregation at the level of marriage and intimate relationships between members of different races - which prevented her from ex. sharing an on-screen kiss with any person of another race. Anna May Wong could not be a romantic leading lady in Hollywood unless Asian leading men could be found. John Yau wrote a poem in 1989 entitled "No One Ever Tried to Kiss Anna May Wong". In 2021, the United States Mint announced that Anna would be among the first women depicted on the reverse of the quarter coin. All three hour-long 'B' films - are part of the 'crime genre' and each also had Anthony Quinn, albeit in minor roles. I enjoyed all but perhaps Island of Lost Men the most but I though Anna was great in King of Chinatown. I can recommend Graham Russell Gao Hodges' book Anna May Wong: From Laundryman’s Daughter to Hollywood Legend. The Kino Blu-ray package showcases an iconic actress with an important and notable legacy which continues to influence entertainers around the world. A must-own for vintage films fans.

Gary Tooze