In 1880's China, young Lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in an Idaho gold-mining town, the property of a saloon owner who ...
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The star of NBC's "Council of Dads" makes some unexpected picks for her own "Council of Moms," pulled from her favorite TV shows.
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Title: Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)
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1 win & 1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Rosalind Chao | ... | Lalu | |
| Chris Cooper | ... | Charlie | |
| Michael Paul Chan | ... | Hong King | |
| Dennis Dun | ... | Jim | |
| Jimmie F. Skaggs | ... | Jonas | |
| Will Oldham | ... | Miles | |
| David Hayward | ... | Ohio | |
| Beth Broderick | ... | Berthe | |
| Kim Chan | ... | Li Ping | |
 |
Chris Evans | ... | Sailor #2 |
|
|
Weili Fan | ... | Sayan |
|
|
Evan C. Kim | ... | Shun Lee |
| Freda Foh Shen | ... | Ah Ling | |
|
|
John M. Hosking | ... | Watkins |
|
|
Mary Matvy | ... | Françoise |
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Storyline
In 1880's China, young Lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in an Idaho gold-mining town, the property of a saloon owner who renames her China Polly and plans to sell her as entertainment for the locals. Refusing to become a whore, Lalu ultimately finds her own way in this strange country filled with white demons. Written by Kelley O.
Plot Keywords:
idaho | f rated | chinese american | female protagonist | asian american |Taglines:
A testament to the strength of the human spiritCertificate:
PG-13Parents Guide:
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Based on the true story of "China Polly". See more »Connections
Referenced in At the Movies: Bad Girls/The Inkwell/Naked in New York/Brainscan/Surviving the Game (1994) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
1 November 1991 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
American Playhouse: Thousand Pieces of Gold See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$16,553, 28 April 1991Gross USA:
$717,772Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$717,772Company Credits
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Technical Specs
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Sound Mix:
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By 1990 pundits were dismissing the Western as a moribund genre, but here was more proof to the contrary: a thoughtful, intelligent frontier drama (from the book by Ruthanne Lum McCunn) about a reluctant young Chinese mail-order bride who learns how to overcome both racial and sexual discrimination after being sold into virtual slavery and shipped to a remote Idaho mining camp. The story offers a fresh look at familiar Far Western terrain from a unique and otherwise neglected Far Eastern perspective: through the eyes of Chinese immigrants who, as much as anyone, helped win the West. The heroine's rocky path to independence is softened somewhat by romantic interest from a sympathetic (and racially color blind) saloon owner, but even in love she never loses her dignity or identity. Likewise the film itself maintains its quiet feminist integrity, by successfully navigating the fine line between sensitivity and soap. Beautifully shot in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with careful attention to authentic period mood and detail.