MovieChat Forums > The Letter (1940) Discussion > Ong Chi Seng Didn't he just GET ON YOUR...

Ong Chi Seng Didn't he just GET ON YOUR NERVES???!!!

posted 19 years ago by Bloody_Wonder
32 replies | jump to latest

Didn't he just GET on your nerves with his mild-manned voice, his iritating smile and the way he was trying to get Bette into trouble...for money...Calling the other oriental people 'friends' ("My friend's, Sir")!!!It was so funny him trying to pull it off

He got so much on my nerves that I just wanted to kill him...It would have been a better plot (even though this plot is terrific!) if Leslie killed him instead of the other man....

"ALRIGHT BLANCHE HUDSON! MISS BIG FAT MOVIE STAR! MISS ROTTEN STINKING ACTRESS!"

[–] Harold_Robbins 19 years ago

The character was supposed to be irritating with his maddening calm and politeness, and obviously it worked - the scene where he disappears between two big parked cars and them zooms out in what we'd now call a "compact car" always makes me chuckle.

Those of you who think you know everything should politely defer to those of us who actually do!

[–] noirgirl 18 years ago

I can't make up my mind; was he truly a loathsome, duplicitous, malevolent man or was he written this way as the then-stereotype of the cunning Oriental? Either way he was despicable and I wanted him to have a bad end.

These endless days are finally ending in a blaze!

[–] clay-brown 18 years ago

You shouldn't feel that way. He was making a political statement. He was treating the people who he felt were oppressing him and his people with as much contempt as he could. In the scheme of things, it was the bravest thing he could do without exposing himself to punishment by the colonialist elite.

[–] TCall2004 15 years ago

He was creepy and sneaky.

That George W. Bush smirk that you just wanted to slap off his face....

[–] bron-tay 14 years ago

I agree. He brought the colonialists down by using their own institutions against them while utilizing the corruption of the native culture.

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Think cynical thoughts.

[–] farfignewton99 17 years ago

I thought this actor brilliantly portrayed a very complex character and it is interesting in pre WWII Hollywood to show an Asian character in more than a one-dimensional "coolie" light. Ong Chi Seng is an ambitious man, who his employer expects to be in direct competition with someday. Ong uses the mask of the stereotypical smiling Chinese worker to his advantage and to his credit, Mr. Joyce recognizes him as a viable threat, knowing Ong is very crafty and the power he can wield among the locals. Ong not only manages to put his employer in a shaky ethical position, but he sees justice win out at the end. He does take his "cut" of the profits but not all of it, giving the large share to his friend and offering to give some to the deserving widow, which she apparently refuses. I can see how the local people would work together to head off a mock trial which allows one of the British colonial bosses' wives to get away with murder. Bravo!! Ong Chi Seng (Victor Sen Yung). I love Bette Davis but what a great story. Great ending, too!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Bloody_Wonder 17 years ago

If only.

"Shelby: I knew there was something on my mind. Ah yes, will you dine with me tomorrow night?
Laura: Maybe.
Shelby: No, it's not that - it's the next night. And what about three weeks from tonight? And all the nights in between?
Laura: Shelby, you talk as if I had no other engagements!
Shelby: And two months from now? And the month after that?
Laura: What about next year?
Shelby: Oh, that's all settled. What about breakfast?
Laura: What about dancing?
Shelby: What about lunch? Beautiful lunches, day after day after day?
Laura: What about work? Beautiful work, day after day after day?
Shelby : Miss Hunt, the way you talk, you'd think I was in love with you!
"- Laura (1944)

[–] BillyFisher 17 years ago

He reminded me of Peter Lorre.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] NSurone 17 years ago

If nothing else, this film proves that Sen Yung could play more complex characters that Charlie Chan's #2 son, or Hop Sing on BONANZA.

[–] Cello1949-2 16 years ago

I liked his character -- he played it well. And then he went on to be Hop Sing, the cook on Bonanza! <G>

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6544) 8 years ago

And he's the only character who comes out ahead by the end of this story.

[–] Cello1949-2 17 years ago

Well, he wound up having to cook for the Cartwrights on Bonanza (teehee).

Seriously, I don't think his character had any sympathy for Bette Davis', but he seemed sincerely concerned about her attorney's inner struggle.

[–] freshspoo 17 years ago

He was supposed to get on your nerves!

Marge

[–] misspaddylee 16 years ago

I thought he was the most interesting character in the story and that Victor Sen Yung gave an Academy Award worthy performance. That character/performance is one of the reasons this is a favourite movie to rewatch.

"Fortunately, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency."

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] misspaddylee 16 years ago

It's a shame that more roles of that calibre didn't come Sen Yung's way, but at least through the Charlie Chan pictures (he played son, Jimmy) and the popularity of Bonanza (Hop Sing), this hard working and talented actor retains a place in the hearts of many fans.

"Fortunately, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency."

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] vermontfudge 16 years ago

All his scenes with James Stephenson were terrific. You can imagine them having a difficult future, the employee has the goods on his employer. The lawyer's goose is kind of cooked and you can see his awareness of that I think. Really terrific acting in this movie.

[–] cadeaux 16 years ago

I agree, Vermont...after the verdict - you can see the gears turning in both Mr. Joyce's and his head...and Mr. Joyce feared his doom.

I quite enjoyed the performance he portrayed...how he managed to use his guile and influence with the natives to his benefit...knowing full-well the attorney would one day rue the day he agreed to the illegal pact.

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[–] MedioSiglo 16 years ago

Yes he did until it looked like he was going to drive away in that huge vehicle and he putt putts out in the mini version. Hilarious.

Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

[–] TCall2004 15 years ago

Oh, thank you. I thought it was just me.

SO polite, so ingratiating, so SLEAZY, so damn creepy!

I wanted to slap him.

[–] lastmidnite2 15 years ago

He was a total sleazeball who did what he did for the money, not as a blow to his people's enemy. THAT politically correct theory is absurd.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 15 years ago

He was the stereotypical Oriental character of that time - 70 years ago. KInda made me cringe. I loved the movie though.

The Wire...the best series in the history of television

[–] psen57 15 years ago

Hi all, I thought Sen Yung as Ong was one of the highlights of the film. Equal to Davis and Stevenson. Stole every scene he had and every line he spoke added dynamite to the tension of the film. I don't think Ong was that evil. He was honest about his role in the bribe plot and in his final scene looked very anguished that he may have compromised his boss over the whole messy affair. He was a stereotype for sure and I wish I could have seen Sen Yung in more meatier roles in his later career. Ong lived in two worlds, that of the subservient local and as a profesional in the colonial justice system and was a very believable character. I imagine he would have done well for himself. May have ended up like Lee Kwan Yew.