Broken Blossoms (1919)

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Cheng Huan is a missionary whose goal is to bring the teachings of peace by Buddha to the civilized Anglo-Saxons... (imdb)

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Genres: Romance, Drama

AKA: Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl

Country: USA

Directed By: D.W. Griffith

Written By: D.W. Griffith, Thomas Burke

Starring: Lillian Gish, Donald Crisp, Richard Barthelmess, Arthur Howard, Edward Peil Sr., George Beranger

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Broken Blossoms belongs to 41 collections

1. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (public: moderated by kozan26 - 198 stars)

2. Roger Ebert: Great Movies (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 73 stars)

3. Features under 91 minutes (public: moderated by epiphany - 43 stars)

4. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2008 revision) (public: moderated by Scottathon - 38 stars)

5. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Top 1000 Movies (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 35 stars)

6. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2010 revision) (public: moderated by MMAlpha - 32 stars)

7. Netflix Instant (public: moderated by somnivore - 28 stars)

8. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2014 revision) (public: moderated by Jehan - 27 stars)

9. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2012 revision) (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 25 stars)

10. National Film Registry (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 22 stars)

11. Women+ (public: moderated by paulofilmo - 17 stars)

12. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (public: moderated by Cinephile - 17 stars)

13. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2017 revision) (public: moderated by iconogassed - 17 stars)

14. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2013 revision) (public: moderated by rant1229 - 16 stars)

15. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2011 revision) (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 14 stars)

16. Most-ranked film of each year (on Criticker) (public: moderated by nauru - 13 stars)

17. Slant Magazine's 100 Essential Films (public: moderated by nexus - 12 stars)

18. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 9 stars)

19. Sight and Sound 2002 (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 9 stars)

20. Harvard University's Suggested Film Viewing List: Narrative Films (public: moderated by dardan - 8 stars)

21. The Top 100 Silent Era Films (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 6 stars)

22. David Thomson's 1000 Films (public: moderated by MMAlpha - 6 stars)

23. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Alternative Top 100 (public: moderated by iconogassed - 5 stars)

24. IMDb Top of The 1910s (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 5 stars)

25. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2007 revision) (public: moderated by Scottathon - 4 stars)

26. Films referenced in Histoire(s) du cinéma (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 4 stars)

27. List: Best of 1917-1929 by Thompson & Bordwell (public: moderated by KasperL - 3 stars)

28. love without borders: cross-cultural + interracial + interfaith relationships (public: moderated by livelove - 3 stars)

29. Akira Kurosawa's Top 100 Films (public: moderated by CCLZA - 2 stars)

30. Roger Ebert's 4-Star Movies (public: moderated by KirkJiggler - 2 stars)

31. J. Castedo's "The Top 100 Films of the 20th Century" (public: moderated by CCLZA - 1 star)

32. Village Voice Critics Poll: 100 Best Films of the 20th Century (public: moderated by MMAlpha - 1 star)

33. A Year of Essential Cinema (public: moderated by Ibetolis1 - 1 star)

34. criticker's underrated (public: moderated by avgcrtckr - 1 star)

35. Coheed's Films I Need To See Or Try To Track Down (private: Coheed - 3 stars)

36. movies of the year - Brian (private: JooJoo - 1 star)

37. A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (private: xinet - 1 star)

38. Filmspotting Ratings Project: Week 29 (private: PeaceAnarchy)

39. flogged's 1001 (private: smuhu)

40. Forrest Watch List (private: ForrestQ)

41. YSF (private: wademenard)

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All Ratings | With Reviews

Order by:

TCI | Percentile | Date Rated | # Stars (Reviews)

Date	User	Rating
Jan 24	adeleuzian	75 _68%
Jan 21	le mami	55 _49%
eh meh. izlenir. millet 2020'de bok gibi filmler çekiyor yani. hayli hayli izlenir
Jan 13	Lemonya	80 _67%
Jan 07	pisha	6 _59%
Jan 05	danialinho	60 _44%
Jan 05	Ammar44	70 _33%
Jan 03	nickv	71 _66%
Jan 01	Bahocuk	70 _61%
Dec 15, 2019	closedmouth	60 _20%
I wanted it to transcend its limitations but just about every level of it creeped me out; forget, if you can, the weird racial stuff, and notice how we're supposed to like this "Yellow Man" because he didn't fuck that 16-year-old (she's 12 in the book) while she was recuperating from being beaten by her father. AND THEN I PULLED OUT MY GUUUUUN.
Dec 13, 2019	NoGuyTest	3 _91%
Dec 05, 2019	jal90	90 _86%
Dec 02, 2019	Toke Za	80 _84%
Nov 23, 2019	NathanBates	60 _35%
This melodrama hasn't really aged well; it's too trivial to see all sorts of stereotypes in the classism and racism this rather bland romance presents. From a cinematographic perspective, though, there are some interesting bits (the sets were impressive).
Nov 20, 2019	Lionel Hutz	50 _48%
Nov 15, 2019	respectratio	79 _44%
Nov 15, 2019	flipperrbm	6 _55%
Nov 10, 2019	RavynLoony	70 _81%
Oct 25, 2019	Sts95	60 _31%
Oct 24, 2019	Patryk	55 _14%
Oct 21, 2019	P7QfVT	37 _18%
Sep 18, 2019	Philosofem	72 _52%
Sep 12, 2019	jerfairall	60 _29%
Aug 12, 2019	sandman248	40 _22%
Aug 09, 2019	bal3x	60 _42%
Jul 07, 2019	Asm Nabil	80 _72%
Jul 06, 2019	thinbeach	10 _11%
Jun 29, 2019	Freder	50 _37%
The last 40 years have aged D.W. Griffith's BROKEN BLOSSOMS more terribly than the sixty years prior ever did. Apart from some establishing shots that are still moody and gorgeous to this day, the one scene that still has real power is the outright horror sequence in which Gish, trapped in a closet, practically looses her mind as Crisp chops the door down with an axe. Her actual death scene is still pure Grand Opera.
Jun 08, 2019	Geslimmar	70 _79%
Apr 23, 2019	AHALE80	70 _0%
Apr 07, 2019	TheRuins	70 _88%
Mar 22, 2019	DarrenCB	90 _85%
Mar 05, 2019	mate_cosido	60 _15%
Mar 01, 2019	Challe_P	60 _38%
Feb 22, 2019	napolenbrady	86 _40%
85.50
Jan 29, 2019	livcali	76 _18%
Jan 28, 2019	bestestuary	82 _57%
Jan 27, 2019	DomTosco	50 _19%
Jan 26, 2019	SheWas	3 _1%
gish oh gosh what did I just watch
Jan 19, 2019	jokevv	60 _41%
Jan 15, 2019	skinnylegend	53 _29%
Jan 02, 2019	knives	91 _97%
Jan 01, 2019	nobamba	50 _38%
Dec 28, 2018	FraGil	55 _25%
Dec 06, 2018	mathiasa	60 _0%
Oct 26, 2018	ehk2	40 _54%
Oct 07, 2018	julesfmb	77 _93%
Oct 06, 2018	LouisMazzini	75 _59%
Oct 05, 2018	Zalgoz	60 _0%
Sep 30, 2018	TheBreather	70 _46%
Sep 21, 2018	Batty	80 _73%
Sep 18, 2018	bubsy	6 _77%
Sep 12, 2018	Hyperion+	4 _71%
Aug 07, 2018	filmbantha	70 _63%
Jul 30, 2018	Kobaruon	60 _54%
Jul 26, 2018	CMQuinn	70 _49%
Jul 12, 2018	AchwellFoley	78 _86%
Jun 20, 2018	FreddieQuell	71 _58%
Jun 10, 2018	nunobar	80 _69%
Jun 01, 2018	allneonslike	70 _67%
May 09, 2018	Darren	85 _79%
That white guy hit the opium den so hard he turned asian.
May 05, 2018	Grandaddy	70 _61%
May 01, 2018	John Milton	80 _87%
Apr 24, 2018	Seethruskin	5 _79%
Apr 19, 2018	fictionfitz	74 _66%
Apr 13, 2018	dourface	50 _27%
Mar 25, 2018	h1d3m3	86 _39%
Feb 27, 2018	manwhonose	96 _88%
Feb 18, 2018	gorkemoge	60 _52%
Feb 13, 2018	TaakoDurden	76 _70%
Jan 24, 2018	???	70 _58%
Jan 05, 2018	FallenSpiral	75 _48%
Jan 02, 2018	rafalko6	60 _30%
Nov 29, 2017	Cocoa	70 _72%
Nov 17, 2017	teaty666	70 _88%
Oct 25, 2017	SamLoveitt	78 _38%
Oct 16, 2017	TMDaines	75 _57%
Oct 14, 2017	ComradeSolar	70 _26%
Sep 10, 2017	Arberwaticus	94 _68%
Aug 21, 2017	izwt936g	100 _98%
Aug 02, 2017	whataboutit	80 _41%
Jun 13, 2017	AHP	75 _51%
May 30, 2017	aymansousa	70 _73%
May 24, 2017	leemarvins	80 _64%
May 23, 2017	Lonewolf2003	80 _76%
May 19, 2017	andr	1 _14%
Mar 17, 2017	synthono	82 _57%
Mar 08, 2017	letterboxdvo	35 _59%
Feb 22, 2017	RYM-byrates	70 _79%
Feb 20, 2017	NickLeonhart	74 _28%
Jan 23, 2017	Buff	40 _43%
Jan 14, 2017	mjbreuer	79 _78%
Jan 11, 2017	joewkeh	42 _10%
Dec 26, 2016	Rebert	8 _87%
Nov 16, 2016	Ronin22	63 _75%
Nov 16, 2016	lineuphere	74 _54%
Oct 27, 2016	jerrywarton	81 _93%
Oct 18, 2016	enesusbow	90 _89%
Oct 15, 2016	darius	78 _23%
Oct 05, 2016	kupfertj	81 _78%
Sep 26, 2016	ERogers	100 _90%
Sep 14, 2016	rollsroyce	41 _23%
Aug 08, 2016	Fuentissimo	28 _19%
Jul 10, 2016	syl7req	58 _31%
Jul 08, 2016	rojatume	36 _1%
Lucy is excellent, but Cheng Huan is very slimy and unlikable, and Battling Burrows is WAY too comical for me to take him seriously. On top of that, the title cards are very on the nose and unnecessary, and too little time is spent on the relationship between Cheng Huan and Lucy. Luckily, it feels very quick.
Jul 04, 2016	Col_Needham	50 _9%
Jul 04, 2016	damfino	87 _99%
Jun 29, 2016	ehchandler	100 _90%
May 30, 2016	Stricken157	25 _4%
May 29, 2016	rocinantes	73 _18%
May 21, 2016	eats-almonds	4 _54%
the only thing offensive about this movie is it's pacing/editing, up until the last 15 minutes. I think you can only expect a certain level of forward-thinking in respect to racism from a guy in 1919, it was an honest effort.
Mar 20, 2016	Kublai Khan	28 _27%
Mar 13, 2016	FrancoZero	15 _77%
Mar 06, 2016	monoglot	40 _14%
Mar 03, 2016	rklenseth	80 _80%
Feb 14, 2016	malady	70 _33%
Jan 29, 2016	wallmasterz	75 _29%
Jan 28, 2016	gahema94	65 _20%
Jan 27, 2016	kennardjon	78 _68%
Jan 02, 2016	kk3thess	70 _62%
Dec 28, 2015	monclivie	35 _6%
Oh god, a bad case of a movie desperately trying to be profound while characters are as one-dimensional as possible, New Yorker with baked face is playing Asian and these fucking intertitles are like some poetry wirtten by 13-y.o. in love.
Dec 21, 2015	ecalder	52 _27%
Dec 19, 2015	Lammetje	90 _96%
Dec 16, 2015	MUBIvotes	38 _74%
Dec 15, 2015	robot2xl	73 _48%
Dec 07, 2015	Llanirev	50 _13%
Dec 07, 2015	laika	80 _75%
Dec 03, 2015	r/TrueFilm	70 _29%
Nov 27, 2015	coroner	80 _83%
Nov 23, 2015	auhasarderik	5 _23%
Nov 11, 2015	Moondog	79 _91%
Nov 11, 2015	maksler	65 _34%
Oct 21, 2015	jennica	35 _12%
Sep 29, 2015	dormice	70 _40%
Sep 19, 2015	furnos	70 _63%
Sep 12, 2015	Ryderlol	50 _18%
Aug 10, 2015	bybrt	90 _94%
Aug 10, 2015	dcatcher	70 _73%
Jul 16, 2015	SleepTight	55 _38%
Jul 13, 2015	thirdeye42	88 _96%
Jul 02, 2015	Dumbwill	90 _78%
Jun 24, 2015	RodopLu	64 _49%
Jun 08, 2015	Magmadiver	65 _24%
Jun 05, 2015	tinatinas	80 _75%
May 19, 2015	zetes	50 _10%
May 19, 2015	dglink	90 _83%
May 16, 2015	porzano	36 _18%
May 13, 2015	preppy-3	50 _29%
May 10, 2015	boothmillard	60 _46%
May 09, 2015	khanbaliq2	90 _74%
Apr 24, 2015	OldAle1	90 _82%
Apr 17, 2015	LyNcHeR	70 _32%
Apr 14, 2015	krulltott	40 _13%
Mar 22, 2015	Squin	70 _38%
Feb 11, 2015	Marte Olsen	72 _44%
Jan 15, 2015	metaller	80 _79%
Jan 10, 2015	Caracortada	80 _93%
Dec 23, 2014	djcrawfo	60 _15%
Dec 20, 2014	coutinho	90 _93%
Dec 17, 2014	ksbluesfan	60 _10%
Dec 15, 2014	felixm85	80 _64%
Dec 14, 2014	10kfilms	87 _83%
Dec 03, 2014	REDO1	78 _58%
Nov 30, 2014	y.nihilist	50 _14%
Nov 23, 2014	cayh	70 _44%
Nov 04, 2014	LuxNatalis	49 _36%
Oct 08, 2014	sunsetparade	75 _31%
Sep 27, 2014	SickForay	82 _83%
Sep 17, 2014	wokelstein	94 _90%
Sep 03, 2014	Hallogallo	7 _41%
Aug 26, 2014	buser333	35 _21%
Aug 25, 2014	KTK	0 _0%
Aug 06, 2014	karamzin	80 _93%
Aug 03, 2014	jackinthebox	80 _78%
Jul 28, 2014	flund	24 _39%
Jun 01, 2014	Lilarcor	59 _18%
Extremely heavy-handed to the point that I can't play along or get invested. Acting is mostly quite terrible but the actors haven't got much to work with as the characters are one-dimensional, stupid and stereotypical. The film is also tainted by racism and a condescending tone throughout. The ending and cinematography makes up for quite a bit of it, but overall this was pretty disappointing.
Jun 01, 2014	themagician	80 _77%
Jun 01, 2014	Melvelet	80 _46%
May 06, 2014	blucthulhu	70 _57%
May 03, 2014	Abba	83 _77%
May 02, 2014	btbenham	85 _69%
Apr 23, 2014	andymalafaia	70 _83%
Apr 18, 2014	Heliophage	62 _80%
Griffith finally catches up with the advances in lighting, editing, and closeups in recent years, and uses them to establish a poetic tone, especially in the slow, shadowy middle and its transition to the disturbing, violent end. However, all this is undermined by a barrage of ludicrous bathos: the "dowry" under the brick, the "forced smile", "Chinky", the entirety of Donald Crisp's performance, etc.
Apr 11, 2014	dijivehav	98 _0%
Apr 06, 2014	adamj1982	65 _43%
Mar 25, 2014	cmtta	100 _46%
Mar 17, 2014	Barraoc	60 _38%
Watched for pure entertainment, rather than historic, value I'd say this is lacking. I'm pretty sure a Chinese actor could have played the Chinese character at least as well as Barthelmess. And what's with the smattering of gems like "What makes you so good to me, Chinky?" A somewhat bad taste left in mouth.
Feb 25, 2014	arzinger	70 _64%
Feb 12, 2014	The Pirate	65 _24%
With such racist overtones, horrible inconsistencies, and a severely depressing melodramatic conclusion, how can I possibly say I enjoyed this movie? It's worth watching, if for no other reason than its significance in the development of film techniques. Parts of it reminded me of Commedia dell'arte, in that each character is flat and serves only one purpose.
Feb 02, 2014	Mulholland	50 _19%
Jan 25, 2014	DetoxPanda	5 _12%
Jan 20, 2014	graveyardtan	90 _84%
Jan 17, 2014	ozymandias.	60 _17%
Jan 17, 2014	xinet	70 _65%
Jan 15, 2014	Zepfanman	73 _7%
Jan 11, 2014	Raf	45 _32%
Jan 10, 2014	MMAlpha	55 _22%
Jan 09, 2014	hulot	70 _69%
Jan 09, 2014	MrBadcrumble	30 _8%
Jan 05, 2014	ar656	70 _22%
Dec 29, 2013	pitn	84 _35%
Dec 18, 2013	maborosi	78 _75%
Dec 09, 2013	lisa-	3 _30%
a sweet (and then despairing) little film that tries to preach peace and racial tolerance, which is kind of interesting given griffith's reputation. the portrayal of asians here (and women for that matter) is condescending, with endearing casual references to 'the chinks'.
Dec 08, 2013	gwynplaine	90 _84%
Dec 08, 2013	Dicke_Taube	70 _60%
Dec 01, 2013	joachimt	80 _86%
Nov 27, 2013	HVM	50 _8%
Nov 15, 2013	Adam P-D	50 _53%
Oct 27, 2013	Nathan	71 _51%
Oct 23, 2013	Auke Briek	70 _51%
Oct 10, 2013	redflag	87 _40%
Oct 09, 2013	fakekael	100 _78%
Sep 18, 2013	julianaesk	75 _44%
Sep 17, 2013	Carlospro	75 _63%
Sep 16, 2013	Limdebois	80 _89%
Sep 16, 2013	Colten97	100 _88%
Griffith allows the lovers dignity that a lesser filmmaker may not have afforded them with a conclusion that is powerfully moving, and hauntingly beautiful. "Intolerance" is the director's greatest achievement, but "Broken Blossoms" is his most emotional masterpiece, and after 94 years, it still packs a wallop.
Sep 02, 2013	GrimsChild	30 _15%
Sep 01, 2013	m4th3u5	90 _76%
Aug 16, 2013	Winston4th	70 _32%
Aug 15, 2013	fakesenator	90 _88%
Aug 10, 2013	Sheldrake	60 _51%
Aug 06, 2013	Barkinson	75 _89%
Aug 01, 2013	AFlickering	70 _62%
Jul 15, 2013	minako017	70 _23%
Jul 05, 2013	tommy_leazaq	47 _11%
Jul 01, 2013	bernardobrum	90 _85%
Jun 27, 2013	mallamp	90 _90%
May 07, 2013	jjackson80	82 _91%
Apr 20, 2013	fabiovisnadi	85 _61%
Apr 11, 2013	Gordon Cole	69 _48%
Mar 26, 2013	filmaddict	78 _82%
Mar 18, 2013	Cronos	60 _59%
Feb 13, 2013	Amadeus	68 _33%
I prefer "The Bitter Tea of General Yen" to that.
Jan 31, 2013	finney28	60 _43%
Jan 22, 2013	oskarhu	83 _86%
Jan 18, 2013	PickfordFan	95 _70%
Jan 18, 2013	DinnyPregs	75 _36%
Jan 17, 2013	kafkalamak	85 _86%
Jan 09, 2013	Communicants	85 _87%
Jan 07, 2013	Timmer	77 _71%
Dec 19, 2012	themadelf66	74 _51%
Dec 17, 2012	JJM	50 _0%
Dec 05, 2012	Mr. Saturn	90 _92%
Dec 02, 2012	PUNQ	80 _99%
Nov 28, 2012	Scottathon	74 _51%
Nov 18, 2012	willow	80 _74%
Nov 17, 2012	Pats_London	85 _76%
Nov 15, 2012	carocamendes	78 _57%
Nov 02, 2012	plantedtrees	80 _61%
Oct 30, 2012	Syntheseizur	68 _24%
Casual racism, flowery intertitles, and brazen manipulation detract from what is otherwise a simple, lovely film. Griffith works in some gorgeous shots, but when put against his other work it's far more basic -- that's to be expected though, given the more intimate nature of this film. Still, it's a refined, succinct, and lovely film from an era where that really counts for something.
Oct 25, 2012	snallygaster	68 _74%
We don't need to give Griffith a pass on the many race fails and general Orientalism in this film, but it's easy to get distracted from what Griffith is doing on a visual & symbolic level, which is challenging the West's patriarchal & imperial legacy. Note how we are told Gish is playing Crisp's daughter, but everything we see presents her as his wife or concubine. Consider what the 3 leads represent, as suggested by their body language & the way Griffith frames them. Note the role of opium.

Displaying 1 to 250 of 465 total ratings: Prev | Next

Average Percentile 56.17% from 465 Ratings