The Bitter Tea of General Yen: A Review

THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN

This review is part of the Summer Under the Stars Blogathon. Today's star is Barbara Stanwyck.

For all the talk of "Capra-corn", Frank Capra was more than capable of making grand, epic films. At least that was his aim in The Bitter Tea of General Yen. A brisk runtime and some solid acting overcome the poor casting choice that still haunts this would-be epic. 

Shanghai during the Chinese Civil War is in chaos. Various warlords fight for control of post-Imperial China. Despite the dangers, there are still missionaries determined to bring salvation to the heathens. One of those is Robert Strike (Gavin Gordon). He is set on his mission. He is also set on waiting for his fiancée to arrive. 

That would be Megan Davis (Barbara Stanwyck). She arrives to find how little life is worth here in the Middle Kingdom. Her rickshaw driver was run over by a luxurious car. Outraged at the seeming lack of care, Megan is unafraid to tell the car's owner how rotten he is. Still, she must get to her own wedding on time. Unfortunately, that wedding will have to be postponed when Strike hears that his orphanage is caught in the crossfires. Determined to rescue the children, he goes to General Yen (Nils Asther). He is the only warlord capable of providing passes. General Yen, however, has barely concealed contempt for Strike and everything about him.

Everything except Megan. In the chaos of battle, Strike, Megan and the children make the train station but are separated. Megan is taken by the charming and elegant warlord, first on his train and then to his summer palace. Megan, who has been declared dead by the press, is at first appalled by how casually the General kills off opposition. She also is initially distrustful of Yen's mistress, Mah-Li (Toshia Mori). Megan won't join the General for dinner. Eventually though, she relents when she learns that there is another American among Yen's courtiers.

That is Mr. Jones (Walter Connolly), Yen's financial guru. He has helped the warlord get the money to fund his conquests. However, will Yen have another conquest in mind? Will Megan eventually find the joy of Yen? Mah-Li may be a secret danger to them both, but not out of jealousy. Her closeness with Captain Li (Richard Yoo) may now help Mah-Li kill two birds with one stone. Secret prayers lead to General Yen losing money and power. Will Megan now find her own life forfeit or will General Yen find how bitter his tea can be?

The Bitter Tea of General Yen was Frank Capra's efforts to be classy and posh. The film proves at least one thing. It shows that if he had wanted, Frank Capra could produce a lavish, visual film like his contemporaries. There are some excellent visual sequences in The Bitter Tea of General Yen. Of particular note is the chaotic opening scene. As Shanghai is hit with a major downpour, the various figures entering or fleeing the city blend in a grand style. The battle sequences too are quite good. 

The dream sequence where General Yen simultaneously threatens and tempts Marion is a bit eccentric. However, it works within a more artistic interpretation than one normally finds in a Capra film. 

The film also boasts lavish, grand sets and costumes. These are elements which Capra is not usually associated with. W. Frank Harling's vaguely Asian score also keeps to the high aspirations of The Bitter Tea of General Yen.

The screenplay by Edward Paramore (adapting Grace Zaring Stone's novel) has some insightful moments as well as some questionable ones. Early on, the bishop who will perform the ceremony states sadly that he thinks missionaries are wasted in China due to Chinese culture. I think this would reflect on the times The Bitter Tea of General Yen is set. I do not know if it veers towards a more imperialist mindset. The not-so-good general has similar views on the Occidentals he encounters. He dismisses Strike's determination to rescue the orphans. He calls the orphans "people without ancestors" and thus unworthy of rescuing. 

However, we also see that the characters are insightful about others. "He's very smart. I'm afraid of him," Mah-Li tells Marion about Mr. Jones. The twist about Mah-Li's hoodwinking of Marian is also well-crafted.

Frank Capra did a strong job in directing his cast. Barbara Stanwyck is a reliable actress and here she does wonderful work. She is strong and capable, such as when she berates General Yen for running down her rickshaw driver (though she later struggles to remember him when she is on his train). She shows vulnerability and unrewarded kindness with Toshia Mori's Mah-Li. Stanwyck also has great scenes when fighting Walter Connolly's Jones.

Connolly too brings a touch of humor as Jones. He is not exactly comic relief. He is, however, more amusing in his bluntness. Mori is given a less ideal role as curious blend of a Madame Butterfly/Dragon Lady mix. She balances the appearance of hesitancy and subservience with the duplicitous double agent. 

That bring us, sadly, to Nils Asther. To be fair, his General Yen is not a stereotypical Chinese figure with broken English. He is courteous and elegant, up to a point. That fantasy sequence does show the character closer to a "yellow peril" type figure. There is, however, the yellowface. It is creepy looking. It is off-putting. It paints the film in an uncomfortable light. It is an issue, though perhaps not as major as it might seem.

The Bitter Tea of General Yen shows that Frank Capra could, if needed, make a more elaborate film than his usual fare. It shows that Barbara Stanwyck could do so much as an actress. The yellowface is still something to be leery of. On the whole though, I doubt people will leave with much if any bitterness against the film. 

DECISION: B-