October 22 4:00 pm
Across to Singapore – 1928
Starring – Ramon Navarro, Joan Crawford, Anna May Wong, Ernest Torrence
Directed by William Nigh
Sunday, October 22, 2023, 4:00 pm
With live musical accompaniment by pianist Andrew Earle Simpson
Across to Singapore stars Ramon Novarro, a Mexican American actor promoted by MGM as a “Latin Lover” and sex symbol, although in his time living a closeted, conflicted life as a homosexual. Novarro is among the first Latin American actors to have a major Hollywood career. A romantic drama set in 19th century Singapore and America, Across to Singapore contains international intrigue, love unrequited and unfulfilled, raucous sailors, and a struggle between two brothers for the love of a siren played by Joan Crawford. Chinese American actor Anna May Wong also plays a small but crucial “butterfly” and “dragon” role.
The screening will include a pre-show intro and a post-show discussion with Andrew Earle Simpson.
Publicity portrait of actor Joan Crawford (1906-1977) in the late 1940’s, United States. (Photo by De Carvalho Collection/Getty Images)
Actor Ramon Novarro Eating Breakfast (Photo by John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Ramon Novarro (circa 1933)
1926: Ramon Novarro (1899 - 1968) and Joan Crawford (1904 - 1977) in a scene from 'Across To Singapore', directed by William Nigh. (Photo via John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images)