"When Were You Born" is an American film from 1938. Although made by Warner Brothers, it seems to be a rather low-budget B movie. It´s interesting mostly for some kind of cultural reasons.
One of the main characters, astrologer Miss Ming, is starred by famous Chinese-American actor Anna May Wong. The story was written by Canadian-American esotericist Manly P Hall, author of "The Secret Teachings of All Ages". I had no idea Hall was into Hollywood movies! (In the film, his name is spelled Manley P Hall.) Hall was a firm believer in astrology, and the film is really propaganda for this ancient superstition, even to the point of Hall himself appearing in an introductory segment, trying to explain the basics of the zodiacal signs.
The plot of "When Were You Born" revolves around a murder mystery in San Fransisco, with Miss Ming trying to aid the police by casting horoscopes. She also seems to be into some kind of phrenology. While Ming is portrayed sympathetically, it´s a curious trait of the story that she practices *Western* astrology, rather than the Chinese version!
The characters in the film represent various astrological personality types. The loyal but brooding secretary is a Virgo, the mercurial reporter a Gemini, the hot headed murder suspect is an Aries, and so on. Naturally, the art collector is a Libra. Sometimes, the types make no sense, presumably because 1938 astrology was somewhat different from the 2022 version. The fat and slightly morose Piscean police officer doesn´t strike me as particularly spiritual and new agey, for instance.
I admit that I didn´t quite get the dénouement (I suspected the Scorpio of being the assassin - I mean, who else *could* it be?), but I didn´t watch "When Were You Born" for its dramatic qualities, but due to its "esoteric" connections. Available on YouTube.
Well, after all, it was 1938! The Honeymoon Bridge collapsed over Niagara Falls due to ice. The U.S. Buffalo nickle was scrapped in favor of the Jefferson image. Hitler marched into Austria, the Munich Pact was signed, Kristallnacht happened. Orson Welles broadcast War of the Words on radio, scaring the beejeesus out of the populace. A minimum wage was enacted in the US. Teflon was developed by DuPont.
ReplyDeleteAnna May looks gorgeous. Our Town wins a Pulitzer prize for drama.
But what prompts me is the Manly P. Hall reference. I actually bought that rather large book The Secret Teachings in 1971. Looking for answers in the mystickall realm at 19 years old. At least I now know one other person has seen it! And yes, it has to be the Scorpio!
1938 was a good year, it seems. But I´m actually a Capricorn! ;-)
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