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The Bitter Tea of General Yen

1932 · Movie · 87 min · ★ 6.3 · 95% critics

DramaRomance

In war-torn Shanghai, an American missionary becomes the captive guest of a powerful warlord. As she waits for rescue, fear, fascination, and clashing beliefs draw her into a complicated emotional bond against a backdrop of conflict and cultural tension.

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Details
Years
1932
Release date
1932-12-25
Language
English
Runtime
87 min
Critic score
95/100
TMDB rating
6.3/10 (101 votes)
About

You may like this if you enjoy old Hollywood romances with danger, moral conflict, and a charged atmosphere similar to Shanghai Express; Not for you if dated racial portrayals or a slow-burn, uneasy love story are dealbreakers.

Pros: bold forbidden romance; rich atmosphere; strong lead performances | Cons: dated stereotypes; uneven opening; melodramatic tone

Themes

  • china
  • shanghai, china
  • missionary
  • chinese civil war
  • betrayal
  • interracial romance
  • pre-code
  • held against will

Cast & crew

Directed by Frank Capra