CJBx7 Directed by DW Griffith. BROKEN BLOSSOMS (1919) tells the story of Cheng Huan (Richard Barthelmess), a young Chinese man who journeys from his homeland to spread the peaceful message of Buddha to the English. After years in England he finds that no one is receptive to his teachings, and he winds up in a small store in London's poor Limehouse district, disillusioned and wasting his life away in an opium den. At the same time we meet Lucy (Lillian Gish), a poor teenage girl who has to contend with an abusive father, prizefighter Battling Burrows (Donald Crisp). A brutal beating sends Lucy fleeing to Cheng Huan's shop, where the two meet and an unexpected love develops, with overwhelming consequences for all three… SCRIPT: The story is basically allegorical and painted in broad strokes. Lucy is a victim, Cheng Huan is a peaceful and sensitive man, and Burrows is a brute with no redeeming qualities. Griffith intended this story to mark a contrast between the pacifistic nature of Chinese Cheng Huan and the violent ways of the supposedly more civilized Anglo-Saxons (specifically Burrows, as well as sailors featured early in the movie). He also shows this contrast when seemingly friendly street preachers in London give Cheng Huan a tract with the stark title "Hell", intended to incite fear of eternal torment.Additionally, BROKEN BLOSSOMS was one of the first positive portrayals of interracial romance. The love that develops between Lucy and Cheng Huan is portrayed as pure and beautiful. This is contrasted with the prejudice and hatred displayed by Battling Burrows. Griffith does deserve credit for portraying Asians in a positive light during the time of anti-Asian Yellow Peril paranoia. One can see that he treats Cheng Huan with genuine respect and admiration. He sketches out the deflation of his idealism with poignancy and compassion.There are, nevertheless, some overly florid and preachy titles (a common fault of Griffith's films) which don't allow the audience to experience the story as completely as we may like, telling us what we should feel instead of allowing our sympathies for the characters to develop naturally. Also, there are some things that come across as offensive now, such as Lucy's question "What makes you so good to me, Chinky?" There really isn't any comic relief or humor to speak of, but the story is quite engrossing despite its flaws. SCORE: 8.5/10 ACTING: The central performances vary in quality. Richard Barthelmess, as Cheng Huan, strives to convey the character's gentle and tolerant nature, as well as his love for Lucy. Unfortunately, the makeup that he has to wear limits his facial expressiveness, somewhat reducing the impact of his performance (well, for me anyway). Undoubtedly, a real Asian actor would have been better for the part, but social conventions of the time made that idea unworkable. However, Barthelmess conveys his character's nature quite effectively despite the disadvantage of his makeup. He carries the lead with grace and sensitivity, ably conveying Cheng Huan's emotions. On the other end of the spectrum, we have Donald Crisp's turn as the sadistic Battling Burrows. I felt that his portrayal was lacking in subtlety, very over-the-top – many of his facial contortions looked like he was practicing for a gurning contest – and even unintentionally funny at times. His character comes off as rather one-note. In the middle, we have Lillian Gish, who comes off the best. Her portrayal of Lucy, the suffering victim, is quite subdued and effective, and she does evoke Lucy's terror during the pivotal closet scene very well. Gish brings a fragility and desperation to the role that makes up for her being a bit old for the part (Lucy was 15 and Gish was 26 at the time of filming). She also beautifully portrays Lucy's reactions at her first glimpse of happiness because of her love for Cheng Huan. The supporting players are adequate for their parts. SCORE: 8/10 CINEMATOGRAPHY/PRODUCTION: To this reviewer, the most outstanding aspect of the film is the cinematography and production. Through well-framed shots, Griffith and celebrated cinematographer Billy Bitzer vividly evoke the story's atmosphere of desperation mingled with fragile bliss. The location settings are quite realistic and detailed. Tinting is used to display the time of day, and it adds to the emotional resonance in some scenes as well. The editing is also pretty smooth. Although not as extraordinary as INTOLERANCE, BROKEN BLOSSOMS shows considerable command of the cinematic medium. Overall, this movie is quite well produced and a truly haunting visual experience. SCORE: 9/10 SUMMARY: BROKEN BLOSSOMS is a notable film in Griffith's body of work for its daring (for the time) subject matter. The story is intriguing and moving in parts, although at times a bit simplistic in others. Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess contribute very moving portrayals. Visually, BROKEN BLOSSOMS is striking, richly detailed and hauntingly evocative. BROKEN BLOSSOMS is a definite classic. MOVIE SCORE: 9/10

evening1 One of the books on my shelf refers to families as "God's little concentration camps," and this movie perfectly encapsulates that potentiality.Lucy's sole purpose in life seems to be as lightning rod for her primitive father's rages. In London's immigrant-filled Limetown district, Lucy can run but cannot hide from the whip of Battling Burrowes.I'd never before seen Lillian Gish and I'm highly impressed. Who will forget her frenzy in being cornered in that flat, pursued by a maniac with a hatchet (did this scene inspire one decades later in "The Shining")?Nor had I been familiar with the work of D.W. Griffith, but I sure am curious now! I'd never before seen a story in which an acolyte of an Eastern religion sets out for the West to enlighten the heathens there. (Now there's a prescient concept!) Chen Huang, played by the Western actor Richard Barthelmess, creates an odd persona. On the one hand he is a saint who only wants the best for Lucy -- yet there are hints he is sexually attracted to the girl. (When she senses this and recoils, he backs off.) Like a strong perfume, his exoticism keeps one interested. This film brutally encapsulates the unreflective soul, in the character of Burrowes, played so ably and rawly by Donald Crisp. A tiny quibble is the plot twist that shows the slimy friend of the boxer discovering Lucy in an upstairs bedroom. I found this rather improbable. "Broken Blossoms" is devastating to watch and contemplate. How much has changed, really, in the last 100 years?

nia_snowdrop Melodramatic and beautiful story for the contrast position of Evil and Good in life, for innocence and brutality. it's really heart touching and affecting of feelings. The characters are clear and have strong expression of faces and gestures, as in all early silent movie from this century. Griffit wants to go deep inside the heart of the man who watch, and show him the reality as it is, bringing out to light the beauty of the White blossom of innocence. This blossom is kept inside the poor girl, who wanted to escape from her tyrannic father, and also in the heart of the young Yellow man from China, who traveled away from his country just to bring peace on earth. They are like one heart divided on two persons. They are the face of serenity, beauty and peace, symbol of the eternal good. The father, who return into brutal killer represents the hidden Evil in days and ages of misery. He is shown with the real face of monster ,who never stop to drink and beat his only daughter. His has no purpose in life, than boxing and brutality against everyone. The dead of the pure "white blossom" girl, brings tears in eyes, because it's so real, even in dramatic way, it represents the high reality. All movie is in scenes, with little like theater decor and black and white views look like moving photography. That's the charm and sense of the old cinema of 20s.

gavin6942 An intimate portrait of Cheng Huan (Richard Barthelmess), a kind hearted Chinese man, and his love for a poor abused girl named Lucy Burrows (Lillian Gish), as well as the brutality of Battling Burrows, a sadistic prizefighter.The visual style of Broken Blossoms emphasizes the seedy Limehouse streets with their dark shadows, drug addicts and drunkards, contrasting them with the beauty of Cheng and Lucy's innocent attachment as expressed by Cheng's decorative apartment. Conversely, the Burrows' bare cell reeks of oppression and hostility. Film critic and historian Richard Schickel goes so far as to credit this gritty realism with inspiring "the likes of Pabst, Stiller, von Sternberg, and others".I found the expression of Chinese thought to be remarkable. At a time when Americans feared the "yellow peril", this paints the Chinese as peaceful and loving, in contrast with a violent America. Cheng is like a saint or martyr, taking his convictions as far as they can be taken.The "closet scene" is the most discussed part of the film, and Gish's performance as "a tortured animal" in this claustrophobic space is what makes the film memorable, and even considered by some to have horror elements. Ivan Butler, for example, claims the scene "produces an overwhelming effect of claustrophobic terror".Historically, the film is also important because it became the first film released by United Artists, the production company formed in 1919 by Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith. As any student of film knows, this company is going strong today (2010).I absolutely recommend this film to anyone who appreciates silent film. In an age dominated by German directors (Murnau, Lang, Wiese) and their Expressionist tendencies, this is a breath of fresh air.