gridoon2024 Review of When Were You Born?

When Were You Born? (1938)

You don't have to believe in astrology to enjoy this film

[6/10 · 16 August 2012]

I should know - I'm a firm non-believer in anything even remotely associated with astrology, but I still enjoyed "When Were You Born" - to a degree. Besides, if I were to take it too seriously, I should be offended: my zodiac sign - Libra - is represented by the most negative character in the film! But at least the skeptics in the audience are fairly represented too. The problem with the film is that it's too static - about 75% of the "action" happens inside one police station. But it makes clever use of flashbacks, and Anna May Wong, playing an astrology specialist who ends up offering valuable assistance to the police, gives more conviction to her lines than most other actresses would - and make no mistake, she is the star of this film; top-billed Margaret Lindsay's part is relatively small, third-billed Lola Lane's even smaller. **1/2 out of 4.