For people interested in this post, I believe it would be worth your time to find a copy of the old Frank Capra memoir THE NAME ABOVE THE TITLE. It's a good read and there is a lot there about the production of this film, and all the Capra films.
I met Frank Capra in the mid-seventies, and he was a gentleman. I think I may have posted this here before --- but he came to Austin and visited what was then KLRN - and it now KLRU, the PBS affiliate for Austin, to tape an interview. They gave a reception for him in one of the studios, and he was moved that so many people came to meet him. And I was amazed that he was so touched by it. But this was at the time that the worship of old movies and old movie people was truly cultish! Mr. Capra suffered from migraine, a condition which contributed heavily to his retirement after he made A POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES in the early sixties. His migraines were severe. Knowing something first-hand about migraine and knowing how he suffered with them, it is a miracle that he made as many films as he did -- and that they had such a positive worldview. Kirby McDaniel On Dec 14, 2009, at 9:46 AM, [email protected] wrote: > Mopoers! > > Off topic but maybe not. Tonight at 8:00 PM EST (5:00 Pacific) Turner > Classics is airing Frank Capra's jaw-dropping and all together amazing early > drama, THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN. I bring this up as many on this site > have commented on their fondness for Barbara Stanwyck and for my money, this > one is hard to beat. It is NOT available on DVD and rarely airs at a decent > time. > > BITTER TEA opened RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL and BOMBED, pulled I believe after > one week and quickly replaced with another Capra great "LADY FOR A DAY" > (talk about back-up!!). Anyway TEA's subject of miscegenation (or the > "mongrelization of the races" as it was known in the South) was still very > much taboo in 1933 and probably not what the Depression era masses were > looking for as an entertaining trip to the movies in spite of showing in the > greatest Temple To Cinema ever created. (Stanwyck also starred in BABY FACE > the same year, talk about an actress with "cajones") > > It took nearly 60 years for the film to be re-discovered and now has a > hard-core legion of devotees. If you have ever wondered why the lobby cards > cost $800 and up for such an obscure title watching it will explain a lot. > Film costars Nils Asther (in amazing make-up) as General Yen, a Chinese > Warlord who plays his character so deliciously you will think of Anton > Walbrook in the RED SHOES or other such career defining performances. > > Film is very much of the time (xenophobic, well yes) but it melodrama at > its best and is stunningly art directed and photographed. I promise, you will > not be disappointed giving this film a look. LOST HORIZON follows so for a > Monday evening you could not ask for a better double bill. > > > freeman fisher > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > Send a message addressed to: [email protected] > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
