The Toll of the Sea (1922) 5/5

Directed by Chester M. Franklin

Anna May Wong - Lotus Flower
Kenneth Harlan - Allen Carver

Loosely based on Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• silent
• film
• move
• madame
• butterfly
• puccini
• opera
• anna
• may
• wong

[jerryaltman]

I read that the original camera negative for this film had survived, but nly the last reel was missing. So why this picture had the image in poor shape? A original camera negative would look fine.

[silentfilmdemocracy]

Most things are in pretty poor shape after 80 years. :)

I know there's a restored version out on DVD these days, if there was an original, well-preserved negative presumably they would've used that, but the one I've posted comes from a VHS version that I've had for a couple of years... I don't know what it was transferred from.

[captainmagic]

I like this film, but it also pisses me off. I understand why Lotus Flower would have to lie to the boy, the 1920s was still an unforgiving time in the USA towards biracial children. However, I cannot forgive what the father did to her, he toyed with her heart and left her because he was too afraid to love her enough to withstand against prejudice.

Anna May would suffer just as Lotus, a broken heart because of stupid taboos.

Sigh.

[silentfilmdemocracy]

Very nicely put, it sums up my feelings quite well.

[LadyAdokenai]

wow, Lotus Flower was WAAAAY too forgiving! I wouldn't have forgiven him. And then she gives his new wife her son?? WTF.

but, I assume she committed suicide at the end, so I guess she was planning it from the time she handed over her son...

so sad! thanks for allowing us all to enjoy this movie. :3

[ethersmithsmasher]

Well, this film is ridiculously unrealistic and is pretty much identical to madame butterfly, but it's still a sad and touching story and teaches us to not marry some loser who floated in from another continent and makes empty promises! Tsch!

[lilypondlane]

@lilypondlane

I just discovered that the little boy was actually played by a little girl named Priscilla Moran who had a very sad life. Check out her bio on IMDb.com.

[lilypondlane]

The sadness of a mother parting with her child is unbearable.

I must say that this little boy who played the son is a very good little actor. He did a terrific job.

This movie has one of the saddest endings that I have ever seen.

[sapph920]

@captainmagic

totally

[ninjapretender]

This movie is beautiful, but the story is troubling for me. I don't think a real person would accept what happened to Lotus Flower so easily. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have given up my son and tragically killed myself. But I've never felt as heartbroken as she must have. And those were different times - she didn't have many options.

[worldsno1drwhofan]

I love the music in this movie, especially the music at the end scene of the sea :'( so sad

[NYC1927]

Awesome seeing something from 1922 in color!!! HOWEVER......plotline and ending...........IN-FUCKING-SA­NE!

[ikevyoiPhone3G1996]

If 2 color Technicolor can only see green and red how can it still capture blue images.

[NekoHime1994]

This is such a sad story I feel so bad for Lotus flower. Very good movie. =( I will definately be getting this one on Dvd.

[rrruizzz]

How sad. Lotus Flower did not deserve to be punished like that in any way. She lived her life as a faithful woman just to be mistreated so wrongfully.

She should have thrown that excuse for a man back into the sea from the get-go.