Broken Blossoms (1936)

Chinese immigrant Chen has just arrived in the gritty streets of 19th century London. The harsh urban life soon changes the devout Buddhist, who believes that "to be alive on this Earth is a beautiful thing," into a callous and miserly businessman. When Chen meets Lucy, the daughter of prize-fighter Battling Burrows, she helps him regain his moral compass. A beautiful young woman, Lucy is at the mercy of her abusive father, who routinely humiliates and assaults his daughter. Chen, seeking a way to save Lucy, finds himself fighting against the cruel forces of capitalism and entrenched anti-Chinese sentiment.

Broken Blossoms, the shadowy, fog-shrouded debut feature from suspense master, John Brahm, is a moody, sound remake of D.W. Griffith's 1919 classic of the same name. Made in England with a largely German crew, Brahm's Broken Blossoms displays the same bravura filmmaking as his later classics, The Lodger (1944), Hangover Square (1945) and The Undying Monster (1942).

• drama