USA 83m Dir: Frank Capra Key Cast: Barbara Stanwyck
It's very easy to look at Danish actor Nils Asther in 'yellowface' and dismiss this film as entirely racist. Obviously there are major issues with it's attitudes to race which I will get on to but I think the film at least merits a discussion.
It's set in China in the late 1920s when the country was in the middle of a civil war, warlords are terrorizing the people and Western missionaries are attempting to help the people affected by it. When Megan (Barbara Stanwyck) goes with her husband to rescue some orphans she finds herself kidnapped by warlord General Yen (Asther). She is initially furious towards him but despite her best efforts finds herself falling in love with him.
Race is obviously a huge issue here and as is usually the case, things are as simple as they first might appear. First I think we should consider the context that the film was made under. In 1933 the idea of inter-racial relationships was looked down upon by society and for a while the very idea became taboo in Hollywood. The film is an attempt to raise the issue and explore it which should be commended.
Of course, from a modern perspective it's troubling in lots of ways. Not least is Asther as Yen. Most of the Chinese cast are actually portrayed by Asian actors, including the excellent Toshia Mori as Mah-Li, but they wouldn't go so far to have an Asian leading man, even if the character is Asian. There's a general sense that this is a few of China through Western eyes- there's something unpleasant about the missionaries gathering together full of a white savior complex and it's disturbing that they are openly racist about the locals. Even when in Yen's court we mostly hear from American Jones, Yen's financial advisor, rather than letting use genuinely get a feel for Chinese life, culture and attitudes. I tend to think there are several levels of racism and this certainly isn't in the "they should all die" category but it shows a complete lack of understanding and respect for another race which is still shameful.
The novel the film was based on didn't actually depict a romance and instead was more of a philosophical contest between the Western and Eastern worldviews of the lead characters. I think this would have made for a more interesting film as it's the moment when Megan and Yen are discussing their beliefs and attitudes that are the highlight of the film. Personally I found the film a little soft, touching on the differences of culture and the interracial relationship but never really taking them very far. The film unfortunately just skims across the surface of these issues and makes no attempt to give us any depth.
From an entertainment point of view, the other big problem with this film is that it's quite dull. It only has a rune time of 83 minutes but I found that still dragged as there is very little plot and no a great deal happens at all. When things did briefly get interesting I found it hard to focus my attention back in after it had wandered away.
I can appreciate what the film was trying to be but it turned out to lack depth, be dull and racist.
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