The Son-Daughter

In order to finance a rebellion in the homeland, San Francisco's Chinatown virgin Helen Hayes (as Lian Wha) sells herself in marriage to the highest swarthy bidder. "Am I not all Confucius demands in a wife?" she asks. A smooth-talking auctioneer, Ms. Hayes manages to give herself up for $100,000. It's a supreme sacrifice, since Hayes has just fallen in love with fellow Asian pretender Ramon Novarro (as Tom Lee). Sadly, Hayes' nasty husband Warner Oland (as Fen Sha) retrieves the loot before it can help the Chinese people. Moreover, father Lewis Stone (as Dong Tong) and Mr. Novarro are placed in life-threatening danger.

It seems ludicrous today, but "The Son-Daughter" was quite serious. Novarro was considered a good bet for ethnic roles, and Hayes was seen as a Lillian Gish successor. He was basking in the box office returns for "Mata Hari" (with Greta Garbo) and she was celebrating her "Best Actress" Oscar bounce. This clunky melodrama probably hurt Hayes most, since she was billed first, and expected to carry the picture. Everyone else needed only to cash their paychecks and let the picture fade from memory.

**** The Son-Daughter (12/23/32) Clarence Brown ~ Helen Hayes, Ramon Novarro, Lewis Stone, Warner Oland

Since no one in the cast of The Son-Daughter is Chinese, it's easy to imagine the story being transported to a different culture and environment. The basic story still works, so I don't know why they made everyone pretend to be Chinese in the first place. A young couple is in love, but because of propriety, respect for their families, and a duty to problems greater to their own leads them to be separated as the girl is married off to a man she doesn't love. This is not a uniquely Chinese story, but Helen Hayes, Roman Novarro, Lewis Stone, Ralph Morgan, and H.B. Warner were all made up in costumes, wigs, and make up and told to act in stereotypical facial and body expressions.

The basic story isn't bad, but since the "white-washing" of early Hollywood is sometimes pretty painful to watch, this won't be a classic you'll want to watch over and over again. Die-hard Helen Hayes fans will want to watch it, but until the very end climax, she isn't given much opportunity to shine. It's a pretty chilling ending, though, so be prepared. For a similar story about familial duty with Helen deferring to her dad Lewis Stone, check out Vanessa, Her Love Story if you want to see her without so much makeup.

The setting is Chinatown in 1911. Residents are split over the revolution that is happening back in China. Some are supporting the revolutionaries by sending money and supplies, while others, loyal to the Emperor, are taking measures to stop such aid. Lewis Stone is Dr. Dong Tong, who has already given all he can to the revolutionaries, but he is pressured to give more. Stone's daughter, Helen Hayes, has fallen in love with young Tom Lee (Ramon Novarro), who we later discover is actually a revolutionary in exile (I think; this plotpoint was a bit blurry, but he's definitely a "good guy"). Stone approves of the match, but when the need to raise money becomes urgent, he decides he has to auction Hayes off as a bride to the highest bidder. She is shocked at first, but gives in to help her father. Warner Oland is a cruel Royalist who winds up buying Hayes. When she finds out that Oland is involved in some theft and murders that have affected her family, she exacts her own form of revenge.

The movie looks good, ripe with shadowy and exotic atmosphere. Virtually every major character is Chinese, but all are played by Caucasian actors. Once you get used to this, it's not terribly distracting, except in the case of Hayes; it never feels like she's really into the part, and to compensate, she overacts the general passivity of her character (until the last half when the character shows that she is made of stronger stuff). Navarro seems more vaguely "foreign" rather than Chinese, but he is handsome here and is very good, the best acting I've seen from him in a talkie. The real affront here for many modern viewers won't be the outdated use of non-Chinese actors, but the fact that Hayes is constantly apologizing to Stone for being a daughter rather than a son. I realize it's a reflection of real cultural values, but still it is bothersome when Hayes does take control near the end, she does it not as a strong woman, but as, in her words, a "son-daughter." If you can get past that, there is some old-fashioned charm and atmopshere to be had in this melodrama.

In the Chinatown of 1911 in San Francisco, the specter of political upheaval casts a shadow over two lovers.

Helen Hayes and Ramon Navarro play Lien Wha and Tom Lee, whose ever-so-polite courtship advances haltingly under the watchful eyes of Lien's father, Dr. Tong (Lewis Stone, perfectly underplaying his role). In a world of wind chimes, flowers and birds singing, Lien Wha inhabits a world very different from the street below. Furtive shadows hide blade wielding hatchet men routinely "dispatching" self-described patriots disloyal to the repressive Chinese Emperor. It is to these patriots that Dr. Tong places his loyalty, and a $100,000 tribute for smugglers becomes crucial to save the repressed homelanders. Tong reveals to his daughter his unfulfilled wish to have had a son to send to fight for his people, and Lien pledges herself to be the son he lacks, she'll be his son-daughter.

Director Clarence Brown unfolds his drama in settings that are among MGM's best. Using complex lighting arrangements and crane shots, the director injects dread most effectively. The violence is quick and strong, definately pre-code. And if you're familiar with the portrayal of Chinese in America up to the sixties, you will forgive performances which play today as over the top. Indeed, during the final reel, you'll discover why Hayes was a great choice for the lead.

A great film for adults, and a must-see for students of great photography.

Chinatown, Old San Francisco, early 20th Century. With revolution raging against the despotic Emperor in China, sympathizers in California work feverishly to ship weapons to the rebels, forever fighting Imperial assassins & hatchet men. Against this backdrop, a lovely Chinese maiden, only child of a gentle doctor, finds love with a newly arrived Celestial. She will soon be surrounded by danger & death, but her remarkable bravery will earn her honor as THE SON-DAUGHTER.

It's easy to criticize this film, with its roster of Western actors all playing Asian roles. That, however, would not be fair. It's important to remember that in 1932 Hollywood it was not unusual for stars to portray other nationalities. Indeed, Ramon Novarro, who receives equal billing here with Helen Hayes, made an entire career doing so. Being able to play ethnic roles was part of what acting was all about.

However, it is correct to say that Miss Hayes does give a rather overripe performance. Novarro comes off better, quietly underplaying his role. The rest of the cast - Lewis Stone, H. B. Warner, Ralph Morgan & Warner Oland - are effectively vile or virtuous, as the script demands. Elderly Louise Closser Hale steals a few scenes as the tart-tongued companion of Miss Hayes. Movie mavens will recognize Edwin Maxwell as the Chinese priest officiating at the wedding ceremony.

Good production values - notice the street scenes - show that MGM was not too stingy with the funds spent on this film.