Broken Blossoms

Broken Blossoms (also called The Chink and the Child, Scarlet Blossoms and The Yellow Man and the Girl) is a 1919 film which tells the story of a Chinese man who goes to England to enlighten Christians about the teachings of Buddha. Battered by intolerance, he opens a small shop. When he takes in a brutalized English girl and takes care of her, the racism of his English neighbors turns violent. It stars Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess and Donald Crisp.

Related Topics:
1919 - Lillian Gish - Richard Barthelmess - Donald Crisp

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The movie was directed by D. W. Griffith, and adapted by Griffith from a story by Thomas Burke.

Related Topics:
D. W. Griffith - Thomas Burke

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The approval of peaceful race relations as presented in this film stands in sharp contrast to Griffith's earlier The Birth of a Nation, and many have interpreted it as his apologia for the earlier film. However, it should be noted that despite the positive representation of interracial romance, Griffith followed convention in casting a white actor, Richard Barthelmess, in the role of the Chinese man.

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The film has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

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