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The Toll of the Sea

Play trailer Poster for The Toll of the Sea 1922 55m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
An American seaman (Kenneth Harlan) marries a Chinese girl (Anna May Wong), then deserts her.

Critics Reviews

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Kenneth Taylor Los Angeles Times Taken all In all, Toll of the Sea is something more than a novelty; it has the usual interest and entertainment values, with just a little more than the usual warmth of the general run of pictures. Oct 18, 2022 Full Review New York Post Staff New York Post It is the first color picture made which has really intensified the third dimension, giving curves to the face and depth to the eye. Oct 18, 2022 Full Review C.A. Lejeune Guardian There are half a dozen scenes at least of which no producer in the world could be proud enough, simply because he would never realize how their beauty brings hope and promise to the drab-weary, disillusioned, frequenter of the screen. Oct 18, 2022 Full Review George T. Pardy Exhibitor's Trade Review It is a real achievement in the cinema art and a picture that will be long remembered and talked of. Nov 10, 2023 Full Review Harriette Underhill New York Tribune In color and in production it is one of the loveliest, daintiest pieces of art work that you could find. Oct 21, 2022 Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE Miss Wong, I may say, is a remarkable pantomimist... with a quality of quiet sadness which is reminiscent of Lillian Gish. Oct 18, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Murty C This is a silent movie worth watching for two reasons - it was the second Technicolor movie produced in Hollywood, and the first leading role for Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American Hollywood star. The plot involves an American falling in love with a local girl in China who saved his life. I found it quite a nice movie despite its "silentness" (or because of it?) and found that Ms. Wong was both talented and beautiful. It is a historical gem. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/31/22 Full Review Audience Member The best movie character ever portrayed: Anna May Wong as Lotus Flower! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member If you're familiar with the Madame Butterfly story the film holds nothing new storywise but this is a fascinating document being one of the earliest films shot in the two strip color process. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member based on 'madame butterfly' also one of the first films lensed in technicolor Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful & soulful tragedy about a beautiful Asain woman (Lotus Flower) who finds an American man who mysteriously has washed up at sea. Naturally she falls in love with him but sadly he must leave & in time forgets her, her story of loss is so touching & you really feel for her. This is actually a whole film in color which is an amazing achievement for 1922. This is a masterful that was only rediscovered in the mid 1980's. It's a must see silent that is much more than a common Melodrama. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A film that should be seen by silent cinematic enthusiastic people. Its a simple story of love but one could say it shows the 'American dream' seeps into a Chinese girl and she marries an American only for him to go back to America and marry an American girl she's left literarily holding the baby. A film about diverse cultures? Men only wanting one thing to get it you get married? Its a sad story a shame the ending was loss. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Toll of the Sea

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The Toll of the Sea

The Toll of the Sea (1922) The Toll of the Sea (1922) The Toll of the Sea (1922) The Toll of the Sea (1922) The Toll of the Sea (1922) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An American seaman (Kenneth Harlan) marries a Chinese girl (Anna May Wong), then deserts her.
Director
Chester M. Franklin
Genre
Romance
Runtime
55m