Customer Reviews

Bitter Tea of General Yen [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the first film to open at Radio City Music Hall in 1933, and it was so far ahead of its time it was a popular failure. It will probably remind of you nothing like Frank Capra's later films, but it's probably his most lyrical and sensitive work--there's no question that it's a masterpiece. Set in China during the "warlord period" of the late 20s and early 30s, the film concerns the strange abduction of a New England missionary (played by Barbara Stanwyck) and a cruel but highly cultured Chinese general (played by a Nils Asther, of all people, a Scandinavian). As the general tries to woo the missionary, her conflicted feelings for him come to the forefront--while all the while the warlord's political fortunes begin to crumble.

Stanwyck was never so subtle as she is here--she plays Megan as moral, tender, and conflicted, but not in the least bit prissy (she is that rarest of creatures, a genuinely virtuous woman). As Asther manages to breathe real depth into what could have otherwise been a racial caricature: although the film still wince-inducingly reminds us, at times, that it is a product of its period in some ways (as in its depiction of the treacherous Mah-Li), nonetheless it confronts head-on the racist stereotypes of white colonialists in China. The final scene between the two leads is absolutely stunning--you won't be prepared for where the film takes the characters, and yet in a strange way it all makes a wondrous kind of dream-like sense. Do yourself a favor and watch this film--it's really one-of-a-kind.

The Bitter Tea of General Yen is one of the greatest love stories to ever come out of Hollywood. Moody and mystical. Haunting and poetic. Sensitive and seductive. Unpredictable and utterly unforgettable. Nils Asther gives the performance of a lifetime as the arrogantly gorgeous and sophisticated General Yen. If only there were more men in the world like this. Sigh. Barbara Stanwyck as the lovely missionary Megan Davis never looked as innocently beautiful again as she does in this film. Capra fills the screen with lavish sets, dreamy lighting and rich romantic action. His very best film ever! My favorite movie of all time! Watch and be enchanted!

Frank Capra's groundbreaking story of an interracial romance between a Catholic missionary in wartorn China (played by a gorgeous young Barbara Stanwyck) and a cruel, haughty Chinese warlord, played -- in the style of the time -- by a white guy. It's a very unusual film, and much different than most other Capra classics. To begin with, the story takes place outside of the director's usual Middle-America tromping grounds, and his dramatizations of the bloodshed and chaos taking place in Asia are pretty amazing... Hard-hitting stuff for a still-isolationist nation to sit through, but material Capra would sucessfully revisit in his WWII propaganda films. The main story, though, is about two people struggling to bridge a deep racial divide -- although the film is rife with sterotypes, Capra clearly meant to project a progressive image onto his characters. It may be a little difficult for modern audiences to passively sit through some of the dialogue, but the film's still a fascinating snapshot of its times, worth considering on a variety of levels. The cinematography and set design are also both quite stunning.

This movie amazed me. First off, I am a big Stanwyck fan, but I was never prepared for this. A certain part shocked me. (Remember, this was the thirties.) Barbara is sitting on the balcony of Yen's palace. She falls asleep and begins to dream. She has this weird dream in which Yen comes after her, and another Yen saves her. Then he begins running his hands all over her chest. Strange, indeed. That isn't the only thing about the movie that I noticed, but it stood out. I gotta warn you, though. The ending is sad. It involves "The Bitter Tea of General Yen." By the way, Barbara cries beautifully.

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 fiance who is captured by a Chinese warlord, played by Swedish Nils Asther. The film explores the clash of the cultures as the western and narrow minded Stanwyck learns to understand the oriental Asther.

Directed by Frank Capra, in his legacy it is unique, so different to the sentimental comedies in which he later specialised. He 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 in spite of his occidental profile and stature. Stanwyck displays her unusual naturalism and 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 in the early thirties. This is one film which could still blow away a modern audience. It should be revived and shown publicly. It is time that this 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.

This film will always mystify me as it doesn't seem to fit into any real period of Hollywood history. Barbara Stanwyck herself said in later years that the whole idea of the film was years ahead of its time upon release. This does go part of the way towards explaining why it was banned in England and Australia upon release and strongly criticised for its content. Time has luckily redeemed this wonderful production and today it is much more respected for its own merits.

I appreciate the film not only for the very very daring subject matter that it tackled for the time but also for the absolutely beautiful sets and costumnes . Indeed the whole production has a rich, other worldly quality to it that makes the film a memorable viewing experience.

The cast of this production is top notch. Barbara Stanwyck, always one of my favorite actresses has one of her very early memorable roles as the young missionary abducted by the mysterious and sensual General Yen, played by silent star Nils Asher. He is particularly effective in his role turning Yen from being just a one dimensional villian into someone who you almost start to feel for. Asher didn't seem to do too much work in the sound era but he is very effective in this characterisation.

Like the other reviewers I was stunned by the very original dream sequence which first reveals Stanwyck's secret passion for General Yen. Considered shocking in it's time today it simply strikes me as being very originally done and very different to anything that would appear in a film of that time.

"The Bitter Tea of General Yen" is a lyrical, hauntingly beautiful production that continues to intrigue me. I strongly recommend it as a great piece of early 30's film making done on a very adult and sensitive level

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!

Wonderful film. Haunting in its pace, mystery, setting, decor and characters. Its language, particularly the accent of Yen (Nils Asther)rings true in that it is how many Chinese second language speakers in China speak English, even today. I was mesmerized by its beauty. Asther's fluid physical grace was magnetic, drawing one in to his presence and every subtle body and facial movement; the enormous silent, patient, knowing space his character exuded was palpably Chinese. Toshia Mori, far from stereotypic, had the role that someone must have in a drama involving treachery; trust is extremely difficult to come by and words can be but gusts of air without meaning when spoken to those who must be sacrificed for a greater good. The settings and dress added to the authenticity of the production, as did the violent events and reactions to them (the execution scene was priceless). The European, American and Chinese value systems are intertwined and range from ambiguous to questionable, particularly with respect to their humanitarianism. The black and white cinematography is delightful to view and appreciate the value it adds to the story. The characters, especially Stanwyck, have such dimension--again, even as they stand or sit in silence--that it feels as if they are in the room with you, yet larger than life. A tragic, moving love story set in a war-torn, culturally-conflicted, racially-bigoted period that is beautifully-sad to watch and savor long after the last reel has spun.

THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN (1933) reunited director Frank Capra and his "Miracle Woman" leading lady Barbara Stanwyck for an exotic Chinese adventure romp, loaded with subtext and erotic intrigue.

Prim missionary Megan Davis (Barbara Stanwyck) is attacked and left for dead during an attempt to save some children from a destroyed orphanage in Shanghai during a civil uprising. She's saved from certain death by notorious warlord General Yen (Nils Asther) and smuggled away to his palace. There, she becomes embroiled in the various intrigues of his court.

The film is a noteworthy precursor to Frank Capra's subsequent 1937 picture "Lost Horizon", sharing a common milieu. One of the last major pre-codes, GENERAL YEN stirred would-be censors with it's depiction of a possible *gasp* interracial romance between Megan and her captor. It also features striking set designs and one of the most audacious dream sequences you'll ever have the pleasure of seeing. Sadly, GENERAL YEN was a notorious flop, possibly because of some of the elements I've just outlined. Depression era audiences loved escapism, yet they also wanted movies they could readily relate to, and this film didn't quite operate on either of those levels. It's still one heck of a ride, though!

THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN is currently only available in the United Kingdom on DVD as part of a Barbara Stanwyck boxset that also boasts "The Miracle Woman", "All I Desire", "Golden Boy", "The Lady Eve" and "Double Indemnity".

The product was as advertised, good quality. The some of the players were known to me. Barbara Stanwyck was wonderful at the start of fine career.I have heard of Nil Asther,but not familiar with his work. The actor that played General Yen's advisor
was good,I have seen him in other motion pictures, usually in a comedy role.