The Toll of the Sea (1922) – A Silent Drama of Love and Loss

The Toll of the Sea is a 1922 silent drama film directed by Chester M. Franklin and written by Frances Marion. The story is a variation of the Madama Butterfly tale, set in China instead of Japan. It follows Lotus Flower, a young Chinese woman who rescues an American man, Allen Carver, from the sea. They fall in love and marry "Chinese fashion," but Carver abandons her when he returns to America. Lotus Flower gives birth to their son and later faces heartbreak when Carver returns with his American wife. In a tragic turn, Lotus Flower sacrifices her happiness for her son’s future, entrusting him to Carver’s wife before ending her own life. The film is notable for being the first Technicolor feature that did not require a special projector for screenings.

Credits:
Director: Chester M. Franklin
Producer: Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation
Starring: Anna May Wong, Kenneth Harlan, Beatrice Bentley, Priscilla Moran
Screenplay: Frances Marion
Cinematography: J. A. Ball

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