Main Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Constance Bennett, Mildred van Dorn, King Ho Chang, Geneva Mitchell
Release Year: 1930
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
Adapted from a story by Rex Beach, Son of the Gods stars Richard Barthelmess as Sam Lee, a young Chinese-American, anxious to distance himself from his oriental heredity. While travelling throughout the world, Sam falls in love with wealthy white girl Allana (Constance Bennett). He chooses not to tell her about his Chinese ancestors -- a wise decision, as it turns out, since she mercilessly lambastes him with a stream of hateful racist epithets when she does learn the truth. Only after she walks out on him does Sam discover that he hasn't a drop of Chinese blood after all. Even so, he now despises the entire white race and vows revenge against the woman who so viciously spurned him. But when Allana finds out that he's a racially "acceptable" sweetheart, the two fall in love all over again! Modern-day viewers who may find the denouement of Son of the Gods both offensive and unbelievable can take comfort in the fact that reviewers in 1930 experienced a similar reaction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Frank Lloyd - Director, Ben Ryan - Songwriter, Sol Vidinsky - Songwriter, Ernest Haller - Cinematographer, Bradley King - Screenwriter, Rex Beach - Short Story Author
Son of the Gods (1930) is an All-Talking musical drama film with Technicolor sequences. It was adapted from the novel (with the same title) by Rex Beach.
Preservation
The film only survives in black and white. One reel was originally in Technicolor but no color prints seem to have survived.
To Redeem a Value •10,000 Dollars •The Gentleman from Indiana •Jane •The Reform Candidate •The Tongues of Men •The Call of the Cumberlands •Madame la Presidente •The Code of Marcia Gray •David Garrick •The Making of Maddalena •An International Marriage •The Stronger Love •The Intrigue •Sins of Her Parent •The World and the Woman (with Eugene Moore) •The Kingdom of Love •The Price of Silence •A Tale of Two Cities •American Methods •When a Man Sees Red •Les Misérables •The Heart of a Lion •The Blindness of Divorce •True Blue •Riders of the Purple Sage •His Extra Bit •The Rainbow Trail •For Freedom •The Man Hunter •Pitfalls of a Big City •The World and Its Woman •The Loves of Letty
1920s
The Woman in Room 13 •The Silver Horde •Madame X •The Great Lover •A Tale of Two Worlds •Roads of Destiny •A Voice in the Dark •The Invisible Power •The Grim Comedian •The Man from Lost River •The Eternal Flame •The Sin Flood •Oliver Twist •The Voice from the Minaret •Within the Law •Ashes of Vengeance •Black Oxen •The Sea Hawk •The Silent Watcher •Her Husband's Secret •Winds of Chance •The Splendid Road •The Wise Guy •The Eagle of the Sea •Children of Divorce •Adoration •Weary River •The Divine Lady •Drag •Dark Streets •Young Nowheres
