The Bitter Tea of General Yen
Directed by	Frank Capra
Produced by	Walter Wanger
Written by	Grace Zaring Stone (novel) Edward E. Paramore, Jr. (screenplay)
Starring	Barbara Stanwyck Nils Asther
Music by	W. Franke Harling
Cinematography	Joseph Walker
Editing by	Edward Curtiss
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	January 3, 1933
Running time	88 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

The Bitter Tea of General Yen is a pre-Code 1933 film, directed by Frank Capra based on the novel by Grace Zaring Stone and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Nils Asther.

The film was the first to play at the Radio City Music Hall upon its opening in January, 1933.

General Yen was a box office failure upon its release and has since been overshadowed by Capra's later efforts. In recent years, the film has grown in critical acclaim. In 2000, the film was chosen by British film critic Derek Malcolm as one of the hundred best films in The Century of Films.

[edit] Plot

Megan Davis (Barbara Stanwyck) comes to China to marry a missionary (Gavin Gordon) and help in his work. During the Chinese Civil War, Davis and her fiancé enter the war zone to rescue orphans. They become separated at a railway station, and Davis is rescued/kidnapped by warlord General Yen (Nils Asther).

Yen becomes infatuated with Davis, and knowing that she is believed to be dead, keeps her at his summer palace. Davis meets Yen's financial adviser, American self-styled renegade Jones (Walter Connolly), the general's concubine, Ma Li (Toshia Mori), and his aide, Captain Li (Richard Loo). When Jones discovers that Ma Li has been spying for the enemy, Yen sentences her to death, but Davis pleads with him to spare her. Yen realizes that Ma Li will not change her ways, but sees this as an opportunity to "convert a missionary". He dismisses Davis' appeal to the Christian ideal of forgiveness as empty words, but accepts Davis's offer to serve as a hostage against the future conduct of Ma Li, against Jones' advice. Davis finds herself subconsciously attracted to her captor (as shown in a dream sequence).

When Ma Li and Captain Li betray the location of the general's money to the enemy, his army deserts him. Realizing that she has destroyed Yen, Davis goes to him willingly, as Yen prepares to drink poisoned tea.

[edit] Cast

• Barbara Stanwyck as Megan Davis
• Nils Asther as General Yen
• Toshia Mori as Mah-Li
• Walter Connolly as Jones, Yen's chief advisor
• Gavin Gordon as Dr. Robert Strife
• Lucien Littlefield as Mr. Jacobson
• Richard Loo as Capt. Li
• Helen Jerome Eddy as Miss Reed
• Emmett Corrigan as Bishop Harkness

[edit] External links

• The Bitter Tea of General Yen at the Internet Movie Database
• The Bitter Tea of General Yen A page about the 1933 movie with pictures and history

v • d • e Films Directed by Frank Capra 1920s The Strong Man • For the Love of Mike • Long Pants • The Power of the Press • Say It with Sables • So This Is Love? • Submarine • The Way of the Strong • That Certain Thing • The Matinee Idol • Flight • The Donovan Affair • The Younger Generation 1930s Rain or Shine • Ladies of Leisure • Dirigible • The Miracle Woman • Platinum Blonde • Forbidden • American Madness • The Bitter Tea of General Yen • Lady for a Day • It Happened One Night • Broadway Bill • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town • Lost Horizon • You Can't Take It with You • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1940s Meet John Doe • Arsenic and Old Lace • It's a Wonderful Life • State of the Union 1950s Riding High • Here Comes the Groom • A Hole in the Head 1960s Pocketful of Miracles