The Road to Dishonour

This article is about the German-language 1930 film starring Anna May Wong. For the English-language version, see The Flame of Love. For the French-language version, see Hai-Tang.

The Road to Dishonour (German: Der Weg zur Schande, also known as Hai-Tang: Der Weg zur Schande) is a 1930 British-German drama film directed by Richard Eichberg and starring Anna May Wong, Francis Lederer and Georg H. Schnell.^[1] It was made at Elstree Studios as part of a co-production deal between Eichberg and British International Pictures.

The Road to Dishonour
Der Weg zur Schande
Directed by	Richard Eichberg
Written by	Ludwig Wolff Monckton Hoffe
Produced by	Richard Eichberg
Starring	Anna May Wong Francis Lederer Georg H. Schnell
Cinematography	Heinrich Gärtner Bruno Mondi
Music by	Hans May Fritz Rotter
Production companies	Richard Eichberg-Film British International Pictures
Release date	26 February 1930 (1930-02-26)
Running time	81 minutes
Countries	Germany United Kingdom
Language	German

Multiple-language versions

Like many other films of the early talkie era before dubbing became more widespread, the film was shot in multiple-language versions, each with a different cast. Three versions of the film were made so they could be screened throughout Europe and the colonial world, such as in Mozambique, Australia and South Africa.^[2] This was Wong's first sound film billed as the star,^{[3][4][Note 1]} and in all three versions she appeared as the female lead.

An English-language version (The Flame of Love/The Road to Dishonour) and a French-language version (Le Chemin du déshonneur, sometimes referred to as L’Amour, maître des choses in French film magazines)^[5] of the film were made with different casts^{[Note 2]} except for Wong, who spoke her part in three different languages. Confusingly, all three versions are often referred to simply as Hai-Tang.^[6]

Plot

In pre-revolutionary Russia, young Chinese variety singer Hai-Tang falls in love with dashing officer Boris. However, their love affair becomes complicated when Boris's commander, a grand duke, also has his eye on Hai-Tang. Hai-Tang's brother Wang Hu tries to fend off the Grand Duke's advances and shoots him in the process. Wang Hu is sentenced to death, but escapes when Hai-Tang declares that she would rather be exiled with her brother than become the Grand Duke's mistress. In doing so, however, she also foregoes happiness with her lover forever.^{[citation needed]}

Cast

• Anna May Wong as Hai-Tang, Star einer chinesischen Gruppe
• Francis Lederer (credited as Franz Lederer) as Leutnant Boris Borrisoff, Adjutant
• Georg H. Schnell as Großfürst Pawel, General-Gouverneur
• Hermann Blaß as Birnbaum, Klavierspieler
• Edith d'Amara as Yvette, Chansonette
• Ley On as Wang-Hu, Hai-Tangs Bruder
• Hugo Werner-Kahle as Oberst Morawjoff, Regimentskommandeur
• Hay Yung as Dschung Dschou - der Älteste der Truppe

Music

As was common in the early days of talkies, the film also received two title hits composed by Hans May. Fritz Rotter wrote the lyrics. Played by prominent bands, they were also distributed on gramophone records.

Audio samples:

• One day the miracle of love will come. Slow-Fox, Ben Berlin and his orchestra, with German chorus singing: Leo Monosson. Grammophon B. 51 797, Video on YouTube
• Russian love songs (Without woman and without wine, no Russian can be). Marek Weber and his orchestra, vocals: Franz Lederer. Electrola E.G.1798 (60-848), Video on YouTube
• No Russian can be without a woman and without wine. Foxtrot, Fred Jones and his jazz symphony with chorus vocals. Electro Eltag 2356 (Matr. 5416), rec. February 1930, Video on YouTube (“Fred Jones” was Sam Baskini)

Notes

1. Wong acted in one of several vignettes in the earlier 1930 musical film review Elstree Calling.
2. Ley On played Hai-Tang's brother Wang-Hu in all three versions.