|
| 
| Director: Frank Capra
Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Nils Asther, Toshia Mori, Walter Connolly, Gavin Gordon
Studio: Sony Pictures
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $6.53
You Save: $13.45 (67%)
New (5) Used (13) Collectible (5) from $6.53
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 2722
Format: Black & White, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Media: VHS Tape
Running Time: 88 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
UPC: 043396274037
EAN: 0043396274037
ASIN: B0000048PT
Theatrical Release Date: January 3, 1933
Release Date: June 23, 1994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-9 of 9
 Must be seen February 10, 2006
Douglas M
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This extraordinary film, way ahead of its time, provides unforgettable viewing. The story is unlike anything that came out of Hollywood ever, and this was 1933! Barbara Stanwyck plays a missionary's wife who is captured by a Chinese warlord, played by Nils Asther. The film explores the clash of the cultures as the western and narrow minded Stanwyck learns to understand the oriental Asther.
In Frank Capra annals, it is a unique, so different to the sentimental comedies in which he later specialised. Capra was trying for an Oscar as best picture but the film was too off beat to have wide appeal and it was not a box office success. It has a dream/nightmare quality and spectacular soft focus photography. Nils Asther is inscrutable and completely convincing. Barbara Stanwyck displays her unusual naturalism and is very moving. The juxtaposition of her realistic persona to his exotic one makes their relationship unforgettable. The last few minutes of the film are incredibly powerful. You will never forget the closing shot.
This was the last of 4 films which Stanwyck made with Capra at Columbia. This is one film which could still blow away a modern audience. It should be revived and shown publicly. It is time that the Stanwyck/Capra collaboration was celebrated in a suitable DVD set. All the films are unique and worthy of revival, although this one is probably the greatest.
 STANWYCK AND CAPRA January 7, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Stanwyck plays her victimized role with aplomb and shines most brightly in the dream sequences where she envisions Asther as her lover. The subject of interracial love was taboo when Capra made this unusual film; miscegenation was a real bugbear then. It was unthinkable for a white woman to wind up in the arms of a Chinese even one as sophisticated as Asther portrays. This film was banned in England because of it's racial issues and Asther, once a silent star, did very few films and none of any consequence after this one. Walter Connolly, who is seen on crutches, played with them because he actually broke his leg when he fell out of a boxcar during production!
 I Know I'm The Minority Here... January 13, 2006
Samantha Kelley (USA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The Bitter Tea of General Yen is the story of a rebel Chinese (Nils Asther) who takes in a Catholic woman (Barbara Stanwyck) when she is knocked out in a large crowd during a panic in the Chinese Civil War. She is presumed dead by her family and the general will not let her escape. She strangely falls in love with him, but the two are very different people, brought up in completely different cultures.
The love story between the two is incredibly hard to detect because it is so microscopic. As a result, the rest of the story is a bit confusing and the events parade on with no real aim.
However, despite the shaky story, the visuals are incredible. The photography is excellent and it is obvious that the sets and costume designs were well thought out. There are also some artistic visuals used including the dream sequence later used more extensively in film noir and suspense films. Barbara Stanwyck looks amazing here; she is very young and delicate in this film. Nils Asther is hardly recognizable as General Yen; his makeup truly makes him look believably Asian.
 "A lot of hooey," April 11, 2007
JOHN GODFREY (Milwaukee ,WI USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
says Jones (Walter Connolly) in the last scene of this movie. That about sums it up. Somewhat below average. Barbara Stanwyck wasn't below average. She never is. She is practicing acting as the beautiful, virginal, (if somwhat gullible) missionary Megan Davis. She's about to be married in China to another missionary. There is a riot & she is rescued or kidnaped depending on your point of view by General Yen. He is basically a ruthless criminal played by Nils Asher. Apparently there were no Asian actors in Hollywood in 1933. He falls in love with Megan immediately. But it is unrequited. She is conflicted & may be falling for him. He is very charming. Those look like real tears streaming down Megan's cheek in one close-up. For our time, it's a bit racist. The Chinese are refered to as devils, yellow swine & Orientials. They are looked down at by European diplomats as they are cheated & then converted. I'm glad I saw this movie but I wouldn't sit through it twice.
|
|
|
We'll be adding even more exciting features to assist you in the coming year.
Thank you for shopping at the Depot.com online shopping depot.
©2008 Depot.com | |
