A Japanese Nightingale (1918)
Drama | 22 September 1918
Cast:
Fannie Ward, W. E. Lawrence [ More ]Director:
George FitzmauriceWriters:
Ouida Bergère, Jules G. FurthmanProduction Designer:
Frank D. OrmstonProduction Company:
Astra Film Corp.The source play was based on the 1901 novel of the same name by Onoto Watanna (pseudonym for Winnifred Eaton). An item in the 8 December 1917 Motion Picture News announced plans for the screen adaptation of Sir William Young’s play, and the 16 March 1918 Moving Picture World indicated that filming was about to begin at Paralta Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Later that month, however, the 30 March 1918 Moving Picture World stated that shooting was underway in Universal City, CA, under the direction of George Fitzmaurice, who was currently the supervising director on all Astra Film Corp.-Pathé Exchange, Inc. productions based in Universal City.
In the July 1918 issue of Film Fun, American actress Fannie Ward, who played the Japanese character “Yuki,” discussed the difficulty she faced in portraying a woman from a very different culture than her own. While her character was experiencing emotional events, Ward suppressed the urge to show those emotions based on what she had learned about Japanese culture. She stated, “In the Orient the face of a woman is a mask, and her beauty depends upon her ability to conceal every evidence of emotion, no matter how great the conflict within her.” According to a 3 August 1918 Motion Picture News brief, the cast included Japanese supporting actors and actresses.
The 10 September 1918 Wid’s Daily stated that, despite earlier reports that Arthur Miller was the cinematographer, Percy Hilburn actually served in that role.
Theatrical release took place on 22 September 1918. Shortly after, the 2 October 1918 Variety reported that ...
The source play was based on the 1901 novel of the same name by Onoto Watanna (pseudonym for Winnifred Eaton). An item in the 8 December 1917 Motion Picture News announced plans for the screen adaptation of Sir William Young’s play, and the 16 March 1918 Moving Picture World indicated that filming was about to begin at Paralta Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Later that month, however, the 30 March 1918 Moving Picture World stated that shooting was underway in Universal City, CA, under the direction of George Fitzmaurice, who was currently the supervising director on all Astra Film Corp.-Pathé Exchange, Inc. productions based in Universal City.
In the July 1918 issue of Film Fun, American actress Fannie Ward, who played the Japanese character “Yuki,” discussed the difficulty she faced in portraying a woman from a very different culture than her own. While her character was experiencing emotional events, Ward suppressed the urge to show those emotions based on what she had learned about Japanese culture. She stated, “In the Orient the face of a woman is a mask, and her beauty depends upon her ability to conceal every evidence of emotion, no matter how great the conflict within her.” According to a 3 August 1918 Motion Picture News brief, the cast included Japanese supporting actors and actresses.
The 10 September 1918 Wid’s Daily stated that, despite earlier reports that Arthur Miller was the cinematographer, Percy Hilburn actually served in that role.
Theatrical release took place on 22 September 1918. Shortly after, the 2 October 1918 Variety reported that the Protective Company had filed for a restraining order against Pathé, attempting to stop further distribution of the film. The plaintiff claimed to have optioned screen rights to the Onoto Watanna novel from Patrick J. Casey, who had obtained the rights from Women’s Home Companion magazine, which had originally purchased screen rights from the author and also had published a serialized version her novel.
According to the Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database, this film is extant.
A young Japanese woman named Yuki runs away and becomes a geisha girl in order to escape marriage to the lecherous Baron Nekko. Her brother's American friend, John Bigelow, falls in love with Yuki and marries her, but Ido, the marriage broker, who will lose a large commission if the wedding of Yuki and the baron is cancelled, breaks into the American consulate, murders the consul, and steals the marriage certificate. When Yuki's brother arrives home from America, he is informed that she and John are living together unlawfully. To save her husband from her brother's vengeance, Yuki resolves to marry Baron Nekko, but Ido, having been mistreated by the baron, finally admits his guilt and returns the marriage ...
A young Japanese woman named Yuki runs away and becomes a geisha girl in order to escape marriage to the lecherous Baron Nekko. Her brother's American friend, John Bigelow, falls in love with Yuki and marries her, but Ido, the marriage broker, who will lose a large commission if the wedding of Yuki and the baron is cancelled, breaks into the American consulate, murders the consul, and steals the marriage certificate. When Yuki's brother arrives home from America, he is informed that she and John are living together unlawfully. To save her husband from her brother's vengeance, Yuki resolves to marry Baron Nekko, but Ido, having been mistreated by the baron, finally admits his guilt and returns the marriage certificate.
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