I didn't actually know it was from director Frank Capra (It's a Wonderful Life) till I actually started watching it, it featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, that is why I watched. Set during the Chinese Civil War, American missionary Megan Davis (Double Indemnity's Barbara Stanwyck) arrives in Shanghai to marry Dr. Robert 'Bob' Strike (Gavin Gordon), but they postpone the wedding to rescue orphans from an orphanage burning in the battlefield. The group are separated in the chaos, and Megan faints, waking in the palace of the man who saved/kidnapped her, warlord General Yen (Nils Asther). The General's mistress Mah-Li (Toshia Mori) gets close to Megan, and he accuses her of betraying him, giving enemies classified information. He falls for Megan, and does spare Mah-Li's life, which doesn't make his financial adviser Jones (Walter Connolly) very happy. Megan does slowly start to fall for the cruel, powerful and gentle General, but Mah-Li did in fact betray him and has destroyed his empire, and Megan watches him kill himself with his last (poisoned) bitter tea. Also starring Lucien Littlefield as Mr. Jacobson, Richard Loo as Captain Li, Clara Blandick as Mrs. Jackson, Moy Ming as Dr. Lin, Robert Wayne as Reverend Bostwick, Knute Erickson as Dr. Hansen, Ella Hall as Mrs. Amelia Hansen, Arthur Millett as Mr. Pettis, Helen Jerome Eddy as Miss Reed and Martha Mattox as Miss Avery. Stanwyck does very well as the lead female character, and Swedish actor Asther is superbly subtle as the nasty General, and there are some eye-catching moments, such as the battle sequences, so it is an impressive classic drama. Very good!