The Purple Dawn

The Purple Dawn^{[note 1]} is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film that was produced, written, and directed by Charles R. Seeling.^[2][5][6] It stars Bessie Love, Bert Sprotte, and William E. Aldrich.

The Purple Dawn
Directed by	Charles R. Seeling
Written by	Charles R. Seeling
Produced by	Charles R. Seeling[1]
Starring	Bessie Love Bert Sprotte William E. Aldrich
Cinematography	Raymond Walker Vernon L. Walker[1][2]
Distributed by	Aywon Film Corporation[3]
Release date	May 10, 1923 (1923-05-10) (U.S.)[2]
Running time	5 reels[4]
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The film is presumed lost.^[7][8]

Plot

In San Francisco's Chinatown, Mui Far (Love), a Chinese American girl, falls in love with a young white sailor (Aldrich), who is robbed when he attempts to deliver a package of opium. The sailor meets a white girl in the country, and falls in love with her. The original owners of the opium think that the sailor stole the opium, and kidnap him and his new sweetheart. Mui Far is heartbroken, but rescues the sailor and his new sweetheart. She then commits suicide by walking into San Francisco Bay at dawn.^[2][4][5][9]

Cast

• Bessie Love as Mui Far^[2][5][10]
• Bert Sprotte as "Red" Carson, the sea captain and dope smuggler
• Edward Peil, Sr. as Wong Chong, the Tong leader^{[note 2]}
• William E. Aldrich as Bob, the hero
• James B. Leong as Quan Foo
• J.P. Ogden^[5]
• William Horne as Mr. Ketchell
• Priscilla Bonner as Ruth Ketchell, Bob's sweetheart
• Edwin Zunn^[11]

Production

Per the film's title, the final 100 feet of film were tinted light purple for dramatic effect.^[12]

Reception

The film received good reviews, although the scene where the hero receives a beating was deemed "far too brutal to please the eye."^[5] Bessie Love's performance received positive reviews.^[13]

See also

• Examples of yellowface
• Racism in early American film
• Whitewashing in film