Rent Broken Blossoms (1919)
3.7 of 5 from 78 ratings
1h 28min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
What Cheng Huan sees of the behaviour of 'westerners' in China convinces him that he should take the teachings of Buddha abroad for the enlightenment of others less fortunate than himself. On arriving in London's Limehouse as a missionary, he is quickly disillusioned by the locals' reluctance to accept his teachings of peace and embarks on a life as small shopkeeper - with occasional visits to the local Chinese entertainments. Battling Burrows is a xenophobic prizefighter who's fond of drink and womanising. His adopted fifteen year-old daughter, Lucy, is frequently the convenient outlet for his temper and he beats her regularly. She is underfed and wears ragged clothes but, whilst shopping, is noticed by Cheng Huan as the priceless young beauty that she is. Following a savage beating, Lucy escapes and collapses in Cheng Huan's shop. He, lovingly, takes care of her, feeds her well and dresses her in beautiful silks.An acquaintance of Burrows discovers Lucy while Cheng Huan has to go across the street to get change for half-a-crown. On hearing the intelligence that his daughter is with a foreigner, Burrows visits the shop while the shopkeeper is out, smashes everything in sight and takes Lucy home and beats her so badly that she dies. On finding Lucy missing and the havoc caused by Burrows' rage, Cheng Huan takes a pistol and embarks on the final act of retribution in this sad, and very violent, melodrama. - Actors:
- Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Donald Crisp, Arthur Howard, Edward Peil Sr., George Beranger, Norman Selby, Ernest Butterworth, Fred Hamer, Wilbur Higby, Man-Ching Kwan, Steve Murphy, George Nichols, Karla Schramm, Bessie Wong
- Directors:
- D.W. Griffith
- Producers:
- D.W. Griffith
- Writers:
- Thomas Burke, D.W. Griffith
- Studio:
- Eureka
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- A History of Soviet Silent Cinema
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Reviews (1) of Broken Blossoms
Silent Melodrama. - Broken Blossoms review by Steve
The artlessly derogatory subtitle (no longer used) affirms just how long ago this was, near to the dawn of the feature film. It is sentimental, and its characters are archetypes, but it still has a power to move that remains undimmed.
Lillian Gish is an abused girl of 16 growing up in poverty in Limehouse in the docks of London. Her brutal father (Donald Crisp) is a prizefighter who visits his frustrations on his uneducated, frail child. She finds brief respite in the platonic adoration of Cheng Huan (Richard Barthelmess) a poetic, Buddhist missionary who has grown disillusioned with his hope of bringing zen to the ruffians of the East End.
The film has a naturalistic look, except during the brief time spent together by Lucy and Cheng, when the image takes on a woozy narcotic feel. Gish is photographed beautifully in this scene. Her portrayal is extraordinary. She holds her body like it is broken. She has been traumatised not only by violence, but a lack of affection. Of course the acting is expressionistic, but her performance during the scenes of parental abuse is truly horrifying. She is dirty and in rags, but Griffith captures a trace of something finer in her luminescent, suffering face.
Though the film contains realistic offensive language on the title cards, it is a plea for tolerance and kindness (from the man who directed The Birth of a Nation in praise of the KKK). It creates a believable world of incredible deprivation and cruelty. The story moves along quickly and it still works as entertainment, even if quite shocking. Griffith remains a controversial figure, but was a gifted and innovative director. My pick of the films made in the 1910s.
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