Obviously, Frank Borzage's "China Doll" is bound to be a little dated in terms of gender relations and race relations. Nonetheless, its depiction of the romance between a US pilot and a Chinese woman must've been bold for the era (remember that the Hays Code banned the portrayal of interracial relationships). It apparently wasn't the only movie depicting such a relationship, but you have to understand the era in which it got released.
The obvious unpleasant side is that the Chinese woman gets depicted as a lotus flower (a common stereotype). The recent murder of several Asian women in Atlanta has drawn attention to the fetishization of Asian women. As long as we understand the questionable portrayal, we can appreciate the movie. The entire cast puts on fine performances. I recommend the movie.
The obvious unpleasant side is that the Chinese woman gets depicted as a lotus flower (a common stereotype). The recent murder of several Asian women in Atlanta has drawn attention to the fetishization of Asian women. As long as we understand the questionable portrayal, we can appreciate the movie. The entire cast puts on fine performances. I recommend the movie.