Delores Del Rio Does Chinoiserie (& smoulders in the International Settlement)

Here we have the beautiful Mexican movie star Delores Del Rio examining her extensive perfume collection and enjoying some chinoiserie style – the low chignon hairstyle and the knot-work gown.

Where did Delores get a taste for chinoiserie? Well it was in the air of course in the 1930s but she did make one China-related movie – 1938’s International Settlement (referring of course to Shanghai) – it’s no Shanghai Gesture but it ain’t bad, largely due to Del Rio: “In Shanghai amidst Sino-Japanese warfare an adventurer (George Sanders) collecting money from gun suppliers falls in loves with a French singer (Delores Del Rio).” The supporting cast is not too exciting though Keye Luke (see my posts about him and his art work here) appears.

As far as I know Del Rio never actually went to China – International Settlement was shot on the 20th Century Fox Studios lot on Pico Boulevard in LA. But still…enjoy…