Robert Osborne did actually have a program about white actors playing Asian roles in films. I'm sure it's in the TCM archives. However, he generally made a distinction between films like The Good Earth, Dragon Seed, The Teahouse of the August Moon, which he considered "of their time" but respectful, on the one hand as opposed to a film like Breakfast at Tiffany's, which contains an offensive caricature. I imagine you would disagree with that assessment, and I respect your opinion.
Osborne also showed a few very obscure films from the 50's (I would guess) that I had never seen or heard of. They featured B-film white actors portraying Asian characters in a highly shameful, stereotypical fashion. I tried watching one of the films for a few minutes, but had to turn it off.
Ben Mankiewicz, when introducing a film like The Good Earth, usually mentions the Anna May Wong controversy but then just says that if this film were re-made today, the roles would be played by actors of Southeast Asian descent. I don't believe I have ever heard him use the term "yellowface", but I could be wrong. Anyway, TCM is showing Dragon Seed tonight. I am DVRing it to hear what he has to say about its casting. |
