The Dragon Painter

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The Dragon Painter

Released Oct 4, 1919

53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

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22 Reviews

70%

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50+ Ratings

Tatsu (Sessue Hayakawa) is a reclusive, tortured artist who continually paints brilliant pictures of a dragon that has the soul of a princess. When Tatsu meets the beautiful Ume Ko (Tsuru Aoki), he thinks that she is the living embodiment of the princess he has spent years imagining. He immediately falls for Ume Ko; initially overjoyed, Tatsu soon becomes despondent when he realizes he has lost his inspiration to paint. He must now somehow learn to balance love with artistic fervor.

Critics Consensus

Beautifully filmed and powerfully acted, The Dragon Painter tells a timeless tale of romantic love and creative passion.

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Grace Kingsley

Los Angeles Times

[Hayakawa] has the power, above anyone I know, to project those stories upon the screen amid the most ideally suitable and beautiful settings... he does this by some magic means which enhances the spectator's feeling for the drama.

May 18, 2021

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Fred Schader

Variety

It is a screen telling of a tale that is full of heart interest and pathos, with a twist at the end that relives the heavy tragedy that has hung over the story for about two reels.

May 18, 2021

Full Review

Wapo Staff

Washington Post

A simple story of great beauty and appeal, The Dragon Painter is distinguished by... striking photographic studies and gorgeous settings.

May 18, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

The Dragon Painter (1919) ... gets several big things right even if it’s also very much a product of its time.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 24, 2024

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Marion Russell

Billboard

Sessue Hayakawa and [Tsuru] Aoki are a talented couple and have screen technique at their finger tips. A lively intelligence is evident in all their work.

Mar 16, 2023

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Mercury Staff

The Mercury (Australia)

The role of Tatsu, the mad artist, affords [Hayakawa] a totally different type of character to portray than any he has attempted. His conception of the part is inherently artistic.

May 18, 2021

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David K

Beautifully shot romance fantasy starring the great Sessue Hayakawa.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/19/24

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s r

A short film about a genius artist and his love that has passed on. It has Hayasawa from Swiss Family Robinson that I just love. It is beautiful. Saw it on TCM.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Beautifully filmed and a rare chance to see Hayakawa in his glory days.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

Even the greatest of silent film enthusiasts will be hard pressed to recommend it...

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Sessue Hayakawa did not want to make stereotypical Asian character-looking movies turned out by Hollywood in the silent era. He decided to make his own company, shoot authentically looking Japanese settings and customs without stereotypes, and "The Dragon Painter" is one of those films that plays as a love story, accessible to an American audience, but then again, not quite Japanese. It is definitely worth seeing for its historical value of real Japanese-American cinema, something that is still very rare to these days.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is truly a great silent film hayakawa is extraordinary the cinematography and art direction is sensational in this film....itz amazing they shot film in yosemite valley california and pulled it off like it was fuedal japan.....such a beautiful film 2 watch!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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William Worthington

Director

Sessue Hayakawa

Tatsu, the Dragon Painter

Toyo Fujita

Actor

Tsuru Aoki

Actor

Richard Schayer

Writer

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Synopsis

Tatsu (Sessue Hayakawa) is a reclusive, tortured artist who continually paints brilliant pictures of a dragon that has the soul of a princess. When Tatsu meets the beautiful Ume Ko (Tsuru Aoki), he thinks that she is the living embodiment of the princess he has spent years imagining. He immediately falls for Ume Ko; initially overjoyed, Tatsu soon becomes despondent when he realizes he has lost his inspiration to paint. He must now somehow learn to balance love with artistic fervor.

Director: William Worthington
Screenwriter: Richard Schayer
Genre: Drama
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 1919, Original
Release Date (DVD): Sep 15, 2009
Runtime: 53m