After creating a sensation in "The Cheat" by the end of the teens Sessue
Hayakawa was enough of a respected star to put together his own
production company, Haworth, where he could explore different
characterizations away from the usual stereotypical Oriental roles
cinema audiences were used to seeing. With movies such as "The
Illustrious Prince" and "The Beggar Prince" (often directed by William
Worthington) Sessue took on sophisticated roles often with a
mystical theme.
Here he is Tatsu, the Dragon Painter, a tormented genius both feared and revered by the villagers. He paints portraits of his lost fiancee who, he believes, has been turned into a dragon. A surveyor who has travelled to the remote regions where Tatsu lives, feels he would be a natural successor to the elderly artist Kano Indara who is looking for an artist to carry on his work and prestige when he dies. Tatsu's uncouthness aside, to get him to stay Indara convinces him that his beautiful daughter Ume-Ko is the princess reincarnated. Tatsu innocently falls in love but with marriage he finds his painting skills and inspiration have left him because he is so much in love with his wife. Ume-ko plans to commit suicide at the Singing Waters so Tatsu can conjure up his passion again.
Hayakawa's wife, the beautiful Tsuru Aoki had had just as an eventful career as her husband's thus far. Born in Japan but growing up in San Francisco, she was initially involved in dance which caught the eye of director Thomas Ince. She also recruited Japanese actors for the Imperial Japanese Company and made a strong film debut. She married Sessue in 1914 and together they would appear in over 20 movies together but they had a very traditional marriage and her career eventually wound down.
Very Recommended
Here he is Tatsu, the Dragon Painter, a tormented genius both feared and revered by the villagers. He paints portraits of his lost fiancee who, he believes, has been turned into a dragon. A surveyor who has travelled to the remote regions where Tatsu lives, feels he would be a natural successor to the elderly artist Kano Indara who is looking for an artist to carry on his work and prestige when he dies. Tatsu's uncouthness aside, to get him to stay Indara convinces him that his beautiful daughter Ume-Ko is the princess reincarnated. Tatsu innocently falls in love but with marriage he finds his painting skills and inspiration have left him because he is so much in love with his wife. Ume-ko plans to commit suicide at the Singing Waters so Tatsu can conjure up his passion again.
Hayakawa's wife, the beautiful Tsuru Aoki had had just as an eventful career as her husband's thus far. Born in Japan but growing up in San Francisco, she was initially involved in dance which caught the eye of director Thomas Ince. She also recruited Japanese actors for the Imperial Japanese Company and made a strong film debut. She married Sessue in 1914 and together they would appear in over 20 movies together but they had a very traditional marriage and her career eventually wound down.
Very Recommended