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The Son-Daughter

  • 19321932
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
171
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ramon Novarro and Helen Hayes in The Son-Daughter (1932)
  • Drama
A large group of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco is clandestinely donating whatever money they earn to smuggle arms into China for the rebels in their fight against the centuries old Man... Read allA large group of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco is clandestinely donating whatever money they earn to smuggle arms into China for the rebels in their fight against the centuries old Manchurian imperial oppressors. The secrecy of their mission is to hide their identities from... Read allA large group of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco is clandestinely donating whatever money they earn to smuggle arms into China for the rebels in their fight against the centuries old Manchurian imperial oppressors. The secrecy of their mission is to hide their identities from anyone supporting the imperial regime. One of the immigrants supporting the rebels is Dr.... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
171
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Clarence Brown
    • Robert Z. Leonard(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • John F. Goodrich(screen play)
    • Claudine West(screen play)
    • Leon Gordon(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Helen Hayes
    • Ramon Novarro
    • Lewis Stone
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Clarence Brown
    • Robert Z. Leonard(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • John F. Goodrich(screen play)
    • Claudine West(screen play)
    • Leon Gordon(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Helen Hayes
    • Ramon Novarro
    • Lewis Stone
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos8

    Ramon Novarro and Helen Hayes in The Son-Daughter (1932)
    Ramon Novarro and Helen Hayes in The Son-Daughter (1932)
    Ramon Novarro and Helen Hayes in The Son-Daughter (1932)
    Ramon Novarro and Helen Hayes in The Son-Daughter (1932)
    Ramon Novarro, Helen Hayes, and Warner Oland in The Son-Daughter (1932)
    Ramon Novarro and Helen Hayes in The Son-Daughter (1932)
    Ramon Novarro in The Son-Daughter (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Helen Hayes
    Helen Hayes
    • Lien Whaas Lien Wha
    Ramon Novarro
    Ramon Novarro
    • Tom Leeas Tom Lee
    Lewis Stone
    Lewis Stone
    • Dr. Dong Tongas Dr. Dong Tong
    Warner Oland
    Warner Oland
    • Fen Shaas Fen Sha
    Ralph Morgan
    Ralph Morgan
    • Fang Fou Hyas Fang Fou Hy
    Louise Closser Hale
    Louise Closser Hale
    • Toy Yahas Toy Yah
    H.B. Warner
    H.B. Warner
    • Sin Kaias Sin Kai
    Ben Bard
    Ben Bard
    • Fen Sha's Servantas Fen Sha's Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Wade Boteler
    Wade Boteler
    • Munition Ship's Captainas Munition Ship's Captain
    • (uncredited)
    Frederick Burt
    • Chinese Merchantas Chinese Merchant
    • (uncredited)
    Willie Fung
    Willie Fung
    • Chinese Merchantas Chinese Merchant
    • (uncredited)
    Sumner Getchell
    Sumner Getchell
    • Dr. Dong's Servantas Dr. Dong's Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Dell Henderson
    Dell Henderson
    • Hy Py - the Bankeras Hy Py - the Banker
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Kennedy
    • Ship's Officeras Ship's Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Mahoney
    • Grimacing Policemanas Grimacing Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Edwin Maxwell
    Edwin Maxwell
    • Chinese Priestas Chinese Priest
    • (uncredited)
    Edward McWade
    Edward McWade
    • Sin Kai's Servantas Sin Kai's Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Leo Willis
    Leo Willis
    • Dock Workeras Dock Worker
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Clarence Brown
      • Robert Z. Leonard(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • John F. Goodrich(screen play)
      • Claudine West(screen play)
      • Leon Gordon(dialogue)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A large group of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco is clandestinely donating whatever money they earn to smuggle arms into China for the rebels in their fight against the centuries old Manchurian imperial oppressors. The secrecy of their mission is to hide their identities from anyone supporting the imperial regime. One of the immigrants supporting the rebels is Dr. Dong Tong. His only offspring, the demure Lien Wha, who also supports the cause, is in love with poor university student, Tom Lee, the two who, after meeting formally, want to get married, which Dr. Tong supports. However, Dr. Tong learns that the rebel backers are short $100,000 for the latest shipment of arms, and are asking the four men within the group with eligible daughters to donate $25,000 apiece, that money to be raised by selling their daughters into marriage to a wealthy buyer. Dr. Tong is one of the four, Lien Wha the daughter to be sold. Simultaneously, Dr. Tong learns of Tom's true identity as the son of one of the most important leaders of the rebel movement in China. Dr. Tong's answer to the request not only threatens Tom and Lien Wha's marriage plans and happiness, but also the arms shipment and all their lives. —Huggo
    • student
    • love
    • fight
    • strangulation
    • wedding
    • 28 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • She sold herself to the highest bidder...and became her father's "Son-Daughter." (Print Ad-Daily Star, ((Long Island City, NY)) 21 January 1933)
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Anna May Wong was very eager to play Lian Wha, but was turned down - according to her own account, because the producers considered her "too Chinese to play a Chinese"; perhaps the fact that Helen Hayes was a far more capable actress and Hayes' name on theatre marquees would have also sold more tickets might have also had something to do with it.

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A world both delicate and deadly
    In the Chinatown of 1911 in San Francisco, the specter of political upheaval casts a shadow over two lovers.

    Helen Hayes and Ramon Navarro play Lien Wha and Tom Lee, whose ever-so-polite courtship advances haltingly under the watchful eyes of Lien's father, Dr. Tong (Lewis Stone, perfectly underplaying his role). In a world of wind chimes, flowers and birds singing, Lien Wha inhabits a world very different from the street below. Furtive shadows hide blade wielding hatchet men routinely "dispatching" self-described patriots disloyal to the repressive Chinese Emperor. It is to these patriots that Dr. Tong places his loyalty, and a $100,000 tribute for smugglers becomes crucial to save the repressed homelanders. Tong reveals to his daughter his unfulfilled wish to have had a son to send to fight for his people, and Lien pledges herself to be the son he lacks, she'll be his son-daughter.

    Director Clarence Brown unfolds his drama in settings that are among MGM's best. Using complex lighting arrangements and crane shots, the director injects dread most effectively. The violence is quick and strong, definately pre-code. And if you're familiar with the portrayal of Chinese in America up to the sixties, you will forgive performances which play today as over the top. Indeed, during the final reel, you'll discover why Hayes was a great choice for the lead.

    A great film for adults, and a must-see for students of great photography.
    helpful•17
    1
    • arthursward
    • Dec 18, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Çin Geceleri
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $423,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 19 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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