The Bitter Tea of General Yen

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The Bitter Tea of General Yen ★★★ 1933

Stanwyck arrives in Shanghai to marry a missionary (Gordon) during the threatening days of China's civil war. Unexpectedly swept into the arms of an infamous warlord (Asher), she becomes fascinated, although his attempts to seduce her fail. She even remains with him while his enemies close in. Exotic and poetic, if melodramatic by today's standards. The interracial aspects were considered very daring for their time. Adapted from the book by Grace Zaring Stone. 89m/B VHS . Barbara Stanwyck, Nils Asther, Gavin Gordon, Walter Connolly, Lucien Littlefield, Toshia Mori, Richard Loo, Clara Blandick; D: Frank Capra; W: Edward Paramore.

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