The Bitter Tea of General Yen 1932

     This film is based on a novel by Grace Zaring Stone.  Megan Davis is engaged to marry American missionary Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Strike.  He has been working in China to spread Christianity to the Chinese people.  The couple have been separated for a while but now their marriage has been arranged.  Dr. Bob arrives for the ceremony but the wedding will need to be delayed.  There is a military revolution taking place in China and they leave to gather a group of children at an orphanage.  Davis becomes separated from Dr. Bob and she is being cared for at the complex of warlord General Yen.  Davis has asked General Yen to return her to her friends but as yet he has not complied.

     This film was a box office failure mainly due to its miscegenation theme.  This term means marriage or living together by two people of different races.  It was denounced by women’s groups and religious organizations and banned in the British Empire for the interracial love story.  There is also criticism of the missionary work in China.  Swedish actor Nils Asther in the role of General Yen is not at all Asian.  He has makeup and his eyebrows are slanted upward to make him appear Asian.  Despite it’s flaws, this film was chosen as the first attraction to be shown at the new Radio City Music Hall.  There is a LOT of violence with mass executions and also a violent street fight.  I was surprised about the ending.  3 ½ (I liked this movie)

89 min, Drama directed by Frank Capra with Nils Asther, Barbara Stanwyck, Gavin Gordon, Toshia Mori, Lucien Littlefield, Richard Loo.

Note:  Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 100% critic 63% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 18 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 3.5* out of 4* user average 3.4* out of 5*, TCM Leonard Maltin 3.5* out of 4* average user review 3.4* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California.  Grace Zaring Stone, the author of the book, was impressed by the realism of the set.  She thought Barbara Stanwyck miscast and that she was wrong for the role of Megan.  Chinese embassy officials in Washington DC complained about the depiction of the treatment of war prisoners and their treatment was toned down.  Some dehumanizing language about the Chinese people was also toned down.  Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die edited by Steven Schneider.