The Son-Daughter
(1932)
80 mins | Melodrama | 23 December 1932
Cast:
Helen Hayes, Ramon Novarro, Lewis Stone [ More ]Director:
Clarence BrownWriters:
John Goodrich, Claudine WestCinematographer:
Oliver T. MarshEditor:
Margaret BoothProduction Designer:
Cedric GibbonsProduction Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.According to news items in FD and HR, Jacques Feyder was originally announced as the film's director, and M-G-M contract players Robert Young and Robert Montgomery had at various times been named as the male lead. Other news items mentioned that Richard Cromwell was going to be borrowed from Columbia for the lead. Actresses mentioned as possible leads included Anna May Wong and Lupe Velez. About ten days before the start of production, it was announced that Helen Hayes would be replaced as the lead so that she could appear in The White Sister, however, that production was postponed and Hayes was able to appear in both films. Other actors mentioned as possible cast members were Edmund Lowe and John Miljan, but the specific parts for which they were considered has not been determined. HR production charts and news items included Sumner Getchell, Frederick Burt , Ben Bard, Edward McWade and Bodil Rosing in the cast, however, their participation in the released film has not been confirmed. Other news items note the following information: Robert Z. Leonard took over as director for about ten days while Clarence Brown was ill with a bad case of flu; special lighting techniques and sets were specifically designed for "day" and "night" scenes so that Chinatown would look gaudy by day and drab by night; shortly after production began four hundred Chinese extras went on a food strike until they were given the kind of food they liked; and in early Dec 1932 ten days of new scenes were added to make the picture "a special." A 10 Nov ...
According to news items in FD and HR, Jacques Feyder was originally announced as the film's director, and M-G-M contract players Robert Young and Robert Montgomery had at various times been named as the male lead. Other news items mentioned that Richard Cromwell was going to be borrowed from Columbia for the lead. Actresses mentioned as possible leads included Anna May Wong and Lupe Velez. About ten days before the start of production, it was announced that Helen Hayes would be replaced as the lead so that she could appear in The White Sister, however, that production was postponed and Hayes was able to appear in both films. Other actors mentioned as possible cast members were Edmund Lowe and John Miljan, but the specific parts for which they were considered has not been determined. HR production charts and news items included Sumner Getchell, Frederick Burt , Ben Bard, Edward McWade and Bodil Rosing in the cast, however, their participation in the released film has not been confirmed. Other news items note the following information: Robert Z. Leonard took over as director for about ten days while Clarence Brown was ill with a bad case of flu; special lighting techniques and sets were specifically designed for "day" and "night" scenes so that Chinatown would look gaudy by day and drab by night; shortly after production began four hundred Chinese extras went on a food strike until they were given the kind of food they liked; and in early Dec 1932 ten days of new scenes were added to make the picture "a special." A 10 Nov FD news item erroneously reported that the picture starring Roman Novarro and Helen Hayes, entitled Let's Go, had been renamed Fast Life. Fast Life actually starred Madge Evans and William Haines (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.1287). According to a 24 Dec HR news item, playwright George Scarborough filed a lawsuit against M-G-M over script alterations in the film, however, no additional information on the suit has been located.
As the rebellion against oppression rages in China, Chinese-American sympathizers in San Francisco prepare a shipment of war materiel to be smuggled to their homeland. Faced with losing the shipment unless he can raise $100,000 in four days, Sin Kai appeals to his people for urgent help, even though his nemesis, The Sea Crab, the secret identity of wealthy merchant Fen Sha, will stop at nothing to prevent the ship's sailing. Despite their concern for China, Dr. Dong Tong and his beautiful daughter Lien Wha have a happy life. When Lien Wha falls in love with a poor young university student named Tom Lee, Tong's affection for his daughter outweighs his concerns for traditional Chinese courtship and he gives permission for them to marry. Soon, however, Sin Kai tells Tong that he must obtain a $25,000 marriage settlement for Lien Wha to give to the cause in compensation for the fact that he has no son to offer. Sadly, Tong agrees, as does Lien Wha, though she and Tom Lee are heartbroken. Even the revelation by Sin Kai that Tom Lee is really Prince Chun, the heir to an important position in the rebellion, cannot alter their duty. After hearing that three other girls have come to an unfortunate end in similar situations, Tong has a change of heart, but Lien Wha encourages her suitors to bid more for her until Fen Sha offers $100,000. Because of her sacrifice, Tong calls her his "son-daughter," a title she accepts proudly. After the wedding, Fen Sha arranges for Tong to be robbed and murdered, then, because Sin Kai has poisoned himself after his capture, ...
As the rebellion against oppression rages in China, Chinese-American sympathizers in San Francisco prepare a shipment of war materiel to be smuggled to their homeland. Faced with losing the shipment unless he can raise $100,000 in four days, Sin Kai appeals to his people for urgent help, even though his nemesis, The Sea Crab, the secret identity of wealthy merchant Fen Sha, will stop at nothing to prevent the ship's sailing. Despite their concern for China, Dr. Dong Tong and his beautiful daughter Lien Wha have a happy life. When Lien Wha falls in love with a poor young university student named Tom Lee, Tong's affection for his daughter outweighs his concerns for traditional Chinese courtship and he gives permission for them to marry. Soon, however, Sin Kai tells Tong that he must obtain a $25,000 marriage settlement for Lien Wha to give to the cause in compensation for the fact that he has no son to offer. Sadly, Tong agrees, as does Lien Wha, though she and Tom Lee are heartbroken. Even the revelation by Sin Kai that Tom Lee is really Prince Chun, the heir to an important position in the rebellion, cannot alter their duty. After hearing that three other girls have come to an unfortunate end in similar situations, Tong has a change of heart, but Lien Wha encourages her suitors to bid more for her until Fen Sha offers $100,000. Because of her sacrifice, Tong calls her his "son-daughter," a title she accepts proudly. After the wedding, Fen Sha arranges for Tong to be robbed and murdered, then, because Sin Kai has poisoned himself after his capture, Fen Sha only needs to kill Tom Lee to prevent the arms shipment. Tom Lee secretly goes to Lien Wha, and they both overhear the details of Tong's murder. He then steals the money from Fen Sha's safe, but is wounded by a knife before escaping back to Lien Wha. Ater his death, Lien Wha strangles Fen Sha with his queue in their bridal chamber and sails to China with the arms shipment, having avenged her loved ones.
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