judy t In 1930 this film must have been daring subject matter. Barthelmess, a top box office star, and Bennett, almost at the top, were the bait to lure in the audience. But the plot is hard to swallow. Barthelmess as the super nice Sam is Chinese but doesn't look it and he speaks English like a native American. Why would the other characters in the film believe he was Chinese? The ending, when we learn he's not Chinese, makes perfect sense. But this also ruins the whole moral point about racial prejudice.Bennett plays Allana, a girl in love with love. As an actress she is not yet skilled enough to make her sometimes stilted lines believable and her acting occasionally produces guffaws, such as when she proclaims to Sam, "I love you, I love you ..." and waves her arms about for emphasis. In reviewing this film, Variety wrote that Bennett, "offers a performance of exceptional excellence ... authenticity of her acting" and more words of high praise. Seeing this film in 2015, I fail to see what Variety saw in 1930.The scenes in the south of France, which looks like Catalina Island west of L.A., were idyllic. Sam was happy working for Bathurst, happy spending his days writing on the terrace and his nights at the casino. Whether Sam and Allana find happiness after the fadeout (doubtful), he/they should set up housekeeping/business here, where Sam can be who he is - a rich American who was adopted by a rich Chinese couple, and who, after some necessary mental readjustment and serious study of Confucius, will recognize and accept his good fortune of being the beneficiary of both cultures.

JohnHowardReid Fascinating film which grabs the attention thanks to a hard-hitting script, big-budget sets and believable acting from a really solid cast, particularly from Constance Bennett in what is surely her best performance ever. Barthelmess is mighty believable too. But the story, alas, is not. Mind you, it's first-rate stuff right until all the cop-out rubbish surfaces with Robert Homans in his all-too-familiar element, but even less convincing than usual. (Homans plays the cop, of course). Interest and believability then take a nosedive despite the studio's frantic efforts to hold our attention with a Technicolor sequence (which is now, despite the excellent quality of the rest of the movie, a Clayton's Technicolor sequence, that is it's the cheesy color filter you have when you're not actually having Technicolor). However, it's hard to keep producer-director Frank Lloyd down, and "Son of the Gods" is still a movie that's well worth watching. Available on a very good Warner Archive DVD.

mark.waltz "He's an educated Chinaman" someone tells Constance Bennett who has come to apologize for racial slurs against Richard Barthelmess brought up to think he's Chinese even though he looks totally Caucasian. The statement meant to defend Barthelmess is actually a slur against the typical looking Chinese that Bennett claims she knew living in California, what this man, tearing Bennett down, is saying is that a Chiese man is OK as long as he's educated, hangs out with Caucasians and looks Caucasian.There's a ton of anti-Asian racial slurs used violently throughout the film, and audiences in 2013 might not understand the mindset of a 1930 audience. Even if the film blatantly used racism without its so-called defense, it wouldn't be as offensive as this. As a film, it is entirely too long, and the twist at the end will probably make you wince. This is a sad example of one type of pre-code celluloid that went too far and like the logo of the 1932 "Scarface" truly is the "shame of a nation" that does nobody any good. By the time the two-strip color flashback final occurs, you'll have given up.

calvinnme ... when matters of race enter the equation. That is the theme of this very early talkie that centers on the social dilemma of Sam Lee, college-aged son of a wealthy Chinese-American man. Sam (Richard Barthelmess) is a well-mannered intelligent young man. He looks Caucasian although he doesn't hide his heritage from his friends and associates. That doesn't mean he wears a sign around his neck announcing it either, and he shouldn't have to. This causes misunderstandings with girls he meets who somehow think they've been taken advantage of if Sam as much as dances with them before they know the truth.He gets tired of this same situation playing out time and time again, leaves school, and goes abroad. There he meets naughty flirt Allana Wagner, a bored wealthy girl who passes her time by breaking hearts. However, Sam's straightforward manner engages her, and soon she is falling for him. Unwilling for history to repeat itself, Sam tries to tell her that he is Chinese, but Allana makes sweeping statements about how nothing matters if they love each other, and poor Sam takes this shallow girl at face value. This sets him up for a very public fall when Allana finds out the truth from her father.This film is very candid for its time in discussing issues of race and social interaction, and it was headed for a very daring end when the writers, at the last minute, produce a happy ending that pulls what could have been some powerful punches.This film is well acted by all of the principal players and the leads are well cast, with Barthelmess always doing well as the thoughtful optimistic guy confronted with a world not as kind and well-meaning as himself. Constance Bennett, the girl with the china doll looks that often belies the cynicism and treachery of the characters she plays, is perfect in her part as Allana. Highly recommended.