The Purple Dawn
| The Purple Dawn | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Charles R. Seeling |
| Written by | Charles R. Seeling |
| Produced by | Charles R. Seeling[1] |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Distributed by | Aywon Film Corporation[3] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels[4] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Purple Dawn[note 1] is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film that was produced, written, and directed by Charles R. Seeling.[2][5][6] It stars Bessie Love, Bert Sprotte, and William E. Aldrich.
The film is presumed lost.[7][8]
Plot
[edit]In San Francisco's Chinatown, Mui Far (Love), a Chinese American girl, falls in love with a young white sailor (Aldrich), who is robbed when he attempts to deliver a package of opium. The sailor meets a white girl in the country, and falls in love with her. The original owners of the opium think that the sailor stole the opium, and kidnap him and his new sweetheart. Mui Far is heartbroken, but rescues the sailor and his new sweetheart. She then commits suicide by walking into San Francisco Bay at dawn.[2][4][5][9]
Cast
[edit]- Bessie Love as Mui Far[2][5][10]
- Bert Sprotte as "Red" Carson, the sea captain and dope smuggler
- Edward Peil, Sr. as Wong Chong, the Tong leader[note 2]
- William E. Aldrich as Bob, the hero
- James B. Leong as Quan Foo
- J.P. Ogden[5]
- William Horne as Mr. Ketchell
- Priscilla Bonner as Ruth Ketchell, Bob's sweetheart
- Edwin Zunn[11]
Production
[edit]Per the film's title, the final 100 feet of film were tinted light purple for dramatic effect.[12]
Reception
[edit]The film received good reviews, although the scene where the hero receives a beating was deemed "far too brutal to please the eye."[5] Bessie Love's performance received positive reviews.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Notes
- Citations
- ^ a b Love 1977, p. 151
- ^ a b c d e Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1971). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1921–1930. New York: R.R. Bowker Company. p. 622. ISBN 9780520215214. OCLC 664500075.
- ^ "Among the 'Independents'". The Film Daily. January 11, 1923. p. 7.
- ^ a b Motion Picture News Booking Guide. Vol. 5. New York: Motion Picture News. October 1923. p. 42.
- ^ a b c d e "Oriental Drama That Will Be Good For Some Box Offices". The Film Daily. April 15, 1923. p. 18.
- ^ "Brevoort". Brooklyn Life. Brooklyn, New York. May 5, 1923. p. 14.
- ^ "Purple Dawn / Charles R Seeling [motion picture]". Library of Congress. 1923.
- ^ The Purple Dawn at silentera.com
- ^ Love 1977, p. 78
- ^ "Seeling Finishes 'The Purple Dawn'". Moving Picture World. October 21, 1922. p. 684.
- ^ "Edwin Zunn". Camera!. Vol. 5, no. 33. November 25, 1922. p. 40.
- ^ "Pictures". Variety. May 17, 1923. p. 26.
- ^ Ferri, Roger (November 11, 1922). Sewell, Charles S. (ed.). "Newest Reviews and Comments". Moving Picture World. p. 184.
- Works cited
- Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. OCLC 734075937.
External links
[edit]- 1923 films
- 1923 lost films
- 1923 romantic drama films
- American black-and-white films
- Lost American romantic drama films
- American silent feature films
- Chinatown, San Francisco in fiction
- Films directed by Charles R. Seeling
- Films set in San Francisco
- 1920s American films
- Silent American romantic drama films
- 1920s English-language films
- English-language romantic drama films