Forbidden City, USA: Chinatown Nightclubs, 1936-1970

12/06/2025

Going out-of-print. There's only one remaining copy of ForbiddenCityBook.com left for sale — after it's gone, the book will be out-of-print. Folks will probably still be able to find it used on Amazon and reseller sites like eBay, but this is the last NEW copy officially from the publisher.

WINNER of the 2015 American Book Award, now in a luxurious HARDCOVER edition! FORBIDDEN CITY, USA captures the magic and glamour of a Chinese American nightclub scene that peaked in San Francisco during World War II. Meet the "Chinese Sinatra," the "Chinese Ginger Rogers," the "Chinese Fred Astai...

31/05/2025

June 17 at 6:30pm: The Chinese American Museum presents trailblazing icon NANCY KWAN —Flower Drum Song! The World of Suzie Wong!— at the Los Angeles launch of her book, "The World of Nancy Kwan: A Memoir by Hollywood’s Asian Superstar." Join director/writer Arthur D**g in conversation with Ms. Kwan for this special free event and book signing. RSVP: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/fcamla/hong-kong-to-hollywood-the-world-of-nancy-kwan

21/04/2025

"Forbidden City, USA" director Arthur D**g joins host Curtis Chin on the InfatuAsian Podcast for a deeply personal and inspiring conversation. From childhood days in a Chinatown sewing factory to filming his first high school movie, and on through five decades of groundbreaking filmmaking, Arthur shares the journey that led to the release of THE ARTHUR D**G COLLECTION from Kino Lorber.

🎧 Listen free at infatuasian.podbean.com

While you’re there, don’t miss Curtis’s conversations with a stellar lineup of Asian American trailblazers, including journalist Connie Chung, Michelin-starred chef Brandon Jew, playwright Lauren Yee, graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, celebrity chef Ming Tsai, actor Kelvin Han Yee, and many others.

More on the Arthur D**g Collection here: https://www.deepfocusproductions.com/arthur-dong-collection/

08/04/2025

In this new series, SFist highlights the stories of Bay Area residents and the communities they support, featuring Arthur D**g, San Francisco native and filmmaker; Hafeth “Omar” Mansouri and his canine colleague Major of "Corner Stories;" and trans barber Santana Vasquez. Read the full article here: https://sfist.com/2025/04/06/interesting-humans-arthur-dong-film-collection-showcases-pioneering-queer-and-asian-american-stories/

26/03/2025

"The Arthur D**g Collection is a fitting tribute to a great filmmaker. His stories are our stories, and they need to be told." — Bay Area Reporter

Read the full review here: https://www.ebar.com/story/153646/Arts%20%26%20Culture/Movies/Arthur%20D**g%20films%20rereleased%3A%20celebrating%20LGBT%20and%20Asian%20stories%20on%20Blu-ray?fbclid=IwY2xjawJQ__1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHb2HNZz5g_LHHP4wkVuIyIRAUM0NSzGpA-tbD5zbe7TYBCHUcY6hVPpokw_aem_XvBzsSfvY1FZR3hMUjsoiA

30/01/2025

One final year-end list for 2024: "18 Overlooked Documentaries of 2024." Thanks to theArtsSTL staff for including the 4 films that make up the ASIAN AMERICAN STORIES collection: Forbidden City, USA: Chinatown Nightclubs, 1936-1970 HOLLYWOOD CHINESE, The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor, and Sewing Woman.

Jason Green, Editor-in-Chief: "When year-end list season rolls around, it’s always fun to check out the lists to see if/where your favorites showed up. But an even more vital role of these lists is to draw your attention to things you may have missed but that are absolutely worth your time to seek out."

More on the collection: https://www.deepfocusproductions.com/arthur-dongs-asian.../

Here's the full article: http://theartsstl.com/18-overlooked-documentaries-of.../

18/01/2025

The Q***r Review's feature article on the "Arthur D**g Collection," which includes a newly mixed and 2K restoration of "Forbidden City, USA."

More on the collection here: https://www.deepfocusproductions.com/arthur-dong-collection/

Following the Criterion Channel’s 2021 Arthur D**g retrospective, ten films by the Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker have just been released by Kino Lorber with the three-disc Blu…

02/01/2025

The ASIAN AMERICAN STORIES collection landed on DVDBeaver-ites Best Physical Media of 2024 list! Editor Gary Tooze wrote: “This illuminating anthology includes four films spanning over 30 years that showcase D**g’s historically acute focus on Asian Americans at the crossroads with Hollywood, pop culture, tradition, immigration, racism, and genocide … [Forbidden City, USA] shows an amazing historical perspective of these Asian performer's lives (tap dancers, Jazz singers, bubble dancers etc.), with clips and stills, including the sailor patrons, marketing, the venues and this lesser shown niche of San Francisco night life and captivating slice of Americana in the 30s and 40s. I really enjoyed it. ... I found every film incredibly absorbing. Wow. Watch these!”

More on the ASIAN AMERICAN STORIES Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber here: https://www.deepfocusproductions.com/arthur-dongs-asian.../

Full review and Gary's technical analysis here: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/Film13/blu-ray_review_181/arthur_dongs_asian_american_stories_blu-ray.htm

31/12/2024

Kino Lorber launches the ARTHUR D**G COLLECTION today! 10 films on 3 discs, 4 hours of bonus material, plus a 12-page booklet with an essay by film critic/author Alonso Duralde. More info here: https://www.deepfocusproductions.com/arthur-dong-collection/

28/12/2024

Nice write-up from Geek Vibes Nation on "The Arthur D**g Collection," with a shout-out to "Forbidden City, USA." Release date is set for 12/31/24. More info & pre-orders: https://www.deepfocusproductions.com/arthur-dong-collection/

"Arthur D**g’s Asian American Stories contains the four films on one disc which have been preserved and restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive ... Sewing Woman and Forbidden City, USA are the most impressive visually thanks to the sumptuous 16mm source replete with lovely film grain. ... This gorgeous presentation all but eliminates every blemish to the 16mm source outside of the occasional white specks, tiny cuts, and other small signs of wear. ... Highly Recommended."

Full review: https://geekvibesnation.com/arthur-dong-collection-blu-ray-review/

15/12/2024

Limited quantities in stock.

WINNER of the 2015 American Book Award, now in a luxurious HARDCOVER edition! FORBIDDEN CITY, USA captures the magic and glamour of a Chinese American nightclub scene that peaked in San Francisco during World War II. Meet the "Chinese Sinatra," the "Chinese Ginger Rogers," the "Chinese Fred Astai...

04/12/2024

Check out this article covering a new documentary about legendary dancer Colby Yee, and her collaboration with the Grant Avenue Follies!

The director of “Chinatown Cha-Cha,” a documentary about a troupe of elderly Asian American dancers, shares her insights into the life of its star, Coby Yee.