The Dragon Painter

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The Dragon Painter

1919

53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

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

05/18/2021

[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.

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Fred Schader

Variety

05/18/2021

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.

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Wapo Staff

Washington Post

05/18/2021

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

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

09/24/2024

7/10

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

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Marion Russell

Billboard

03/16/2023

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.

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Mercury Staff

The Mercury (Australia)

05/18/2021

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.

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David K

05/19/2024

Beautifully shot romance fantasy starring the great Sessue Hayakawa.

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s r

@ScottR 09/15/2020

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.

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01/26/2013

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

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01/06/2013

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

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01/24/2011

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.

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11/14/2009

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!!

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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