Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Thousand Pieces of Gold

  • 19901990
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
671
YOUR RATING
Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
  • Romance
  • Western
In 1880s China, a girl is sold into marriage by her father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in a gold-mining town where she forges a path for her own freedom and, ultimately, true... Read allIn 1880s China, a girl is sold into marriage by her father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in a gold-mining town where she forges a path for her own freedom and, ultimately, true love.In 1880s China, a girl is sold into marriage by her father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in a gold-mining town where she forges a path for her own freedom and, ultimately, true love.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
671
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Nancy Kelly
  • Writers
    • Ruthanne Lum McCunn(novel "Thousand Pieces of Gold")
    • Anne Makepeace(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rosalind Chao
    • Chris Cooper
    • Michael Paul Chan
Top credits
  • Director
    • Nancy Kelly
  • Writers
    • Ruthanne Lum McCunn(novel "Thousand Pieces of Gold")
    • Anne Makepeace(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Rosalind Chao
    • Chris Cooper
    • Michael Paul Chan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos12

    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rosalind Chao
    Rosalind Chao
    • Laluas Lalu…
    Chris Cooper
    Chris Cooper
    • Charlie Bemisas Charlie Bemis
    Michael Paul Chan
    Michael Paul Chan
    • Hong Kingas Hong King
    Dennis Dun
    Dennis Dun
    • Jimas Jim
    Jimmie F. Skaggs
    Jimmie F. Skaggs
    • Jonasas Jonas
    Will Oldham
    Will Oldham
    • Milesas Miles
    David Hayward
    David Hayward
    • Ohioas Ohio
    Beth Broderick
    Beth Broderick
    • Bertheas Berthe
    Kim Chan
    Kim Chan
    • Li Pingas Li Ping
    Chris Evans
    • Sailor #2as Sailor #2
    Weili Fan
    • Sayanas Sayan
    Evan C. Kim
    Evan C. Kim
    • Shun Leeas Shun Lee
    Freda Foh Shen
    Freda Foh Shen
    • Ah Lingas Ah Ling
    John M. Hosking
    • Watkinsas Watkins
    Mary Matvy
    • Françoiseas Françoise
    A.J. Kallan
    • Parkeras Parker
    • (as Albert J. Kalanick)
    Mary Beth Lee
    • Li Yuanas Li Yuan
    • (as Mary Lee)
    Jianli Zhang
    • Chenas Chen
    • Director
      • Nancy Kelly
    • Writers
      • Ruthanne Lum McCunn(novel "Thousand Pieces of Gold")
      • Anne Makepeace(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Dangerous Beauty
    7.1
    Dangerous Beauty
    Slow West
    6.9
    Slow West
    Pharaoh's Army
    6.7
    Pharaoh's Army
    One More Mountain
    5.3
    One More Mountain
    The Virginian
    6.4
    The Virginian
    Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life
    5.4
    Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life
    Bed of Lies
    5.6
    Bed of Lies
    A Little Piece of Sunshine
    5.7
    A Little Piece of Sunshine
    Darrow
    6.2
    Darrow
    City of Hope
    7.3
    City of Hope
    In Broad Daylight
    7.0
    In Broad Daylight
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive
    5.7
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the true story of "China Polly".
    • Connections
      Featured in Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (1997)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Harsh gloominess gives way to muted optimism
    Gritty social realist story of Chinese woman Lalu who is sold into slavery in the late 19th century, and taken to a rough mining town in the American west. There she faces a series of humiliations, rejections and triumphs before finding at least a degree of happiness with a sympathetic saloon keeper. By turns both gloomy and sentimental (not necessarily a bad thing) issues of racism and feminism are very much to the fore.
    helpful•10
    1
    • tim_o_callaghan
    • Dec 20, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • American Playhouse: Thousand Pieces of Gold
    • Filming locations
      • Butte, Montana, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Playhouse
      • Channel Four Films
      • Filmcat
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $717,772
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $16,553
      • Apr 28, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $717,772
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:02
    LGBTQIA+ Movies and Shows to Watch This Summer
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.