The Son-Daughter
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Son-Daughter |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1932 |
| length | 92 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Clarence Brown |
| script | John F. Goodrich , Claudine West |
| production | Clarence Brown for MGM |
| music | Herbert Stothart |
| camera | Oliver T. Marsh |
| cut | Margaret Booth |
| occupation | |
| |
The Son-Daughter is a 1932 American film starring Helen Hayes and Ramón Novarro and directed by Clarence Brown . Although the film is set exclusively among people of Chinese descent, all roles except for a few extras are played by suitably dressed members of white skin. This “yellowface” practice was common in Hollywood until the early 1960s.
action
1911. In China, people rebel against government repression. In the Chinatown of San Francisco, the residents of Chinese origin collect a lot of money to support their compatriots with weapons and medicines in the fight for freedom. A ship has now been chartered and loaded with urgently needed relief supplies and weapons. The action is faced with massive hindrance by Fen Sha, who wants to prevent the ship from casting off at all costs. Dr. Dong Tong, meanwhile, is busy promoting the happiness of his daughter Lien Wha, who is in love with shy student Tom Lee. Just before the ceremony, Sin Kai, an influential spokesman for the Chinese community, demands that the tradition be followed. Since Dr. Tong has no son, he has to pay a bridal fee of $ 25,000 to the community. Dr. However, Tong lacks the resources. Only when he learns that many young Chinese girls cannot marry because of this antiquated custom, because their parents cannot raise the money, does he decide to allow his daughter to marry. The revelation that Tom Lee is really Prince Chun, a wealthy heir from China, makes his decision easier. Fen Sha does not leave no stone unturned to prevent the ship from sailing. Not only does he kill Dr. Tong, but also has Tom Lee murdered. In a final confrontation, Lien Wha, who pretends to marry Fen Sha, succeeds in strangling him with his own braid. After the deed, Lien Wha goes aboard the aid van with her head held high, ready to fight in China for the freedom of all people and the overcoming of old-fashioned conventions.
background
Like many other large MGM productions from the time, The Son-Daughter also has a complex production history. The first plans were to let the film, which is based on the play of the same name by David Belasco , go in front of the cameras in early 1932 with Jacques Feyder as director. Robert Montgomery and Richard Cromwell were interviewed for the role of Tim Lee . In addition to Lupe Vélez , test shots were also made with Anna May Wong . According to his own admission, Wong did not get the role of Lien Wha because she would look "too Chinese".
Finally, Helen Hayes was awarded the contract. Ramon Novarro , whose career since the advent of sound film was stalled, agreed to take on the more peripheral role of Tom Lee. His diminishing prestige in the studio was also reflected in the fact that his weekly fee was only $ 5,000 after charging between $ 7,500 and $ 10,000 a week for his previous performances. The actor hoped that the show alongside Hayes, just at the time at the Academy Awards in 1932 for The Sin of Madelon Claudet the Oscar as best actress had received to be recognized also as a dramatic actor. The finished film proved unpopular at the box office and ended up with a profit of just $ 8,000.
The studio's make-up department went to great lengths to make up the actors so that they looked like people of Chinese descent. The practice known as "Yellowface", to cast the characters mainly from Chinese, but also from other Southeast Asian ethnic groups, almost exclusively with actors of white skin, sometimes lasted until the early 1960s. Mickey Rooney and Alec Guinness played Japanese characters with appropriate make-up in Breakfast at Tiffany's and 1000 Miles to Yokohama in 1961 , without offending the cast.
Web links
- The Son-Daughter in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Synopsis and set photos - English
- P. 54–57 - detailed film historical classification of Helen Hayes' interpretation of the role - English