A Chinese mandarin hopes to regain favor with the Emporer by betrothing her to him, but he doesn't know she's secretly married to the American consul and pregnant.
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Title: The Forbidden City (1918)
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Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Norma Talmadge | ... | San San / Toy | |
| Thomas Meighan | ... | John Worden | |
| E. Alyn Warren | ... | Wong Li | |
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Michael Rayle | ... | Mandarin |
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L. Rogers Lytton | ... | Chinese Emperor |
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Reid Hamilton | ... | Lieutenant Philip Halbert |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
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Charles Fang | ... | Yuan-Loo |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
The daughter of a Chinese mandarin is sentenced to death for her secret marriage to an American. Their child, raised in the mandarin's palace, grows up and escapes to seek her father, now a high-ranking official in the Philippines. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
Plot Keywords:
mandarin | secret marriage | consul | interracial baby | emperor of china |Taglines:
A Chinese Mandarin offered Sn San to the Emperor, but when they found her half American baby girl the Emperor ordered San San to the Hall of Flashing Speers. The prettiest and most unique or all Oriental stories ever told on the screen---don't miss it. (Print Ad- Sentinel-Record, ((Hot Springs, Ark.)) 5 December 1918)Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
6 October 1918 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Tale of the Forbidden City See more »Filming Locations:
Select Studios, Bronx, New York, USACompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
SilentColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
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I was very moved by this film. Norma Talmadge plays the role of San-San, a mandarin's daughter, who risks all for love of Thomas Meighan's character, an American diplomat named Worden. She is very believable as an oriental girl who is longing for love. Norma also plays the love child of San-San and Worden, as a young adult, trying to escape from her brutal life in the emperor's palace.
This type of story has been done before, but perhaps never so tenderly and sweetly as in this old, old film. This is a haunting movie, with great performances from all the cast. It is not to be missed.