Incredibly sordid and horrifying re-make of the famous silent film directed by D.W. Griffith, adapted from a tale in Thomas Burke's 1916 short story collection, "Limehouse Nights". This time the director is John Brahm and the stars are Emlyn Williams in a greatly augmented role as the Chinaman, Dolly Haas as the horrifyingly mistreated young girl, and Arthur Margetson as the hideously sinister monster, Battling Burroughs. I'm amazed – but not surprised – that this unrelentingly sordid and exceptionally violent tale got past contemporary censors worldwide. I've always been utterly opposed to censorship not because I believe in an anything goes regime, but because censors worldwide are so incompetent. The all nations' green light given this ultra violent, expansively sordid remake of Broken Blossoms proves my point. Needless to say, it's always the movies you should avoid that seem to be readily available in really excellent prints, and this one can be obtained on an Alpha DVD.
4 Reviews
Mediocre
jpb584 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
You have two film choices for this story of The Chink and The Girl: the American silent film masterpiece by DW Griffith, made in 1919, and this British sound remake (1936), starring Dolly Haas in the Lillian Gish role, Emlyn Williams in the Richard Barthelmess role, and Arthur Margetson in the Donald Crisp role.
It was interesting to compare versions, but I'm afraid I didn't think much of this sound version. The direction and script left a lot to be desired -- and proved to me once again that DW Griffith was a pure genius and master of cinema.
I sat there and watched and thought of 1000 things I would have done differently. Poor Dolly seemed adrift and needed firmer direction. Her best scene was the closet scene, but her moment of death was ridiculous -- she woke up after being beaten by Battling Burrows and she died with a song on her lips, embracing her Chinky! Egad! I hope Lillian Gish never saw this film, she probably would have collapsed onto the theater floor with laughter.
Emlyn Williams as Chen didn't talk for the first 15 minutes, even when people in the story addressed him directly, and I was beginning to think he was playing the Chinaman mute, when all of a sudden he started to talk in a crowd scene -- in a thick English accent without a shred of Chinese inflection to his voice at all.
After months of watching Oriental films I couldn't help but grimace at his lame attempts to be Chinese. Richard Barthelmess looked the part much much better! Arthur Margetson probably gave the best performance as Battling Burrows, though some of his moments didn't ring true. For instance, when he was first told about his daughter being with the Chinaman, he laughed uproariously. Then suddenly he got angry. That wasn't in keeping with his criminally insane and evil character. I think Donald Crisp was far far scarier in the silent version, so much so that I often had to turn my head away.
The sound was often muffled on this version (Alpha Video) and I couldn't understand a lot of the words. Thankfully I don't think it much mattered, because I knew the story already, but if this was my first introduction to this story I don't think I'd bother checking out the vastly superior silent masterpiece and that would be a shame! It's definitely an interesting relic and I'm glad I saw it, but now I feel like I want to cleanse myself and watch the Griffith silent all over again.
I gave this Broken Blossoms a 5 out of 10 on the IMDb and I believe that's being generous.
It was interesting to compare versions, but I'm afraid I didn't think much of this sound version. The direction and script left a lot to be desired -- and proved to me once again that DW Griffith was a pure genius and master of cinema.
I sat there and watched and thought of 1000 things I would have done differently. Poor Dolly seemed adrift and needed firmer direction. Her best scene was the closet scene, but her moment of death was ridiculous -- she woke up after being beaten by Battling Burrows and she died with a song on her lips, embracing her Chinky! Egad! I hope Lillian Gish never saw this film, she probably would have collapsed onto the theater floor with laughter.
Emlyn Williams as Chen didn't talk for the first 15 minutes, even when people in the story addressed him directly, and I was beginning to think he was playing the Chinaman mute, when all of a sudden he started to talk in a crowd scene -- in a thick English accent without a shred of Chinese inflection to his voice at all.
After months of watching Oriental films I couldn't help but grimace at his lame attempts to be Chinese. Richard Barthelmess looked the part much much better! Arthur Margetson probably gave the best performance as Battling Burrows, though some of his moments didn't ring true. For instance, when he was first told about his daughter being with the Chinaman, he laughed uproariously. Then suddenly he got angry. That wasn't in keeping with his criminally insane and evil character. I think Donald Crisp was far far scarier in the silent version, so much so that I often had to turn my head away.
The sound was often muffled on this version (Alpha Video) and I couldn't understand a lot of the words. Thankfully I don't think it much mattered, because I knew the story already, but if this was my first introduction to this story I don't think I'd bother checking out the vastly superior silent masterpiece and that would be a shame! It's definitely an interesting relic and I'm glad I saw it, but now I feel like I want to cleanse myself and watch the Griffith silent all over again.
I gave this Broken Blossoms a 5 out of 10 on the IMDb and I believe that's being generous.
Slow And Tedious
malcolmgsw18 July 2015
According to Halliwell it was originally intended that D W Griffiths would direct this film.Sadly he didn't.Instead it was given to a total incompetent who seemed to think that he must direct the film as if it were a silent.Everything is exaggerated,except of course for Emlyn Williams who has decided to underplay.He plays the part without a Chinese accent.Meanwhile Dolly Haas,plays the cockney female lead with her German accent.It is interesting to note that many of the technical personnel were German and this has clearly had an effect on the photography which is probably the only positive aspect of this whole dreary mess.Sometimes it is better to have second thoughts about going through with a remake.Clearly this is such an example.
I was very surprised by this film, it's oddly mesmerising
amsaltcoats11 May 2021
I watched this via the UK TV channel Talking Pictures TV which shows some great films.
When it started I thought "no, I can't watch it, it's just too old" - the back drops of China are clearly just painted, the Chinese music is too jaunty and jingly jangly and the make up of the actor playing Chen makes him look like Julian Clary. I like Julian Clary but he would be entirely out of place in a film like this. I must also observe that the subtitles are often incorrect - Tommy Tacos instead of Tommy Tuckers; Bright Blossom instead of White Blossom; junk instead of drunk ;"there, time will come" instead of Better Times will come - a theme of the film.
Despite these deficiencies, something made me keep watching and I can only say that I was mesmerised by this film. It is so intense. The actress who plays Lucy was 26 at the time but is very convincing as a teenager and her odd accent and the strange rhythm of her delivery adds to the character rather than detracting from it. The scenes of violence are not shown explicitly but the atmosphere is so menacing and the acting and reacting of the actors is so good that I actually felt physically sick and the father's final violence and the obvious pleasure he takes in it is horrifying.
The idea of that brutality permeates this Limehouse world is very well conveyed and there are some excellent grotesque vignettes such as the 3 old people laughing wordlessly at a violent boxing match.
I would thoroughly recommend this film for its menace and atmosphere. I was so interested that I then went on to watch on Youtube the 1919 silent version with Lillian Gish which is deemed critically superior but I felt it lacked atmosphere and I didnt enjoy it half as much.
I.
When it started I thought "no, I can't watch it, it's just too old" - the back drops of China are clearly just painted, the Chinese music is too jaunty and jingly jangly and the make up of the actor playing Chen makes him look like Julian Clary. I like Julian Clary but he would be entirely out of place in a film like this. I must also observe that the subtitles are often incorrect - Tommy Tacos instead of Tommy Tuckers; Bright Blossom instead of White Blossom; junk instead of drunk ;"there, time will come" instead of Better Times will come - a theme of the film.
Despite these deficiencies, something made me keep watching and I can only say that I was mesmerised by this film. It is so intense. The actress who plays Lucy was 26 at the time but is very convincing as a teenager and her odd accent and the strange rhythm of her delivery adds to the character rather than detracting from it. The scenes of violence are not shown explicitly but the atmosphere is so menacing and the acting and reacting of the actors is so good that I actually felt physically sick and the father's final violence and the obvious pleasure he takes in it is horrifying.
The idea of that brutality permeates this Limehouse world is very well conveyed and there are some excellent grotesque vignettes such as the 3 old people laughing wordlessly at a violent boxing match.
I would thoroughly recommend this film for its menace and atmosphere. I was so interested that I then went on to watch on Youtube the 1919 silent version with Lillian Gish which is deemed critically superior but I felt it lacked atmosphere and I didnt enjoy it half as much.
I.
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