Name: The War of the Tongs
Genre: Drama
Released: 1917-02-19
Duration: 50 min
Cast: Tom Hing, Hoo Ching, Lee Gow

Oriental simplicity is very much in evidence in this offering when contrasted with the average American five-reel feature. It moves along in a quiet way through the first three reels, the interest being maintained by the novelty of the cast and manner of presentation. All of the characters, including Ching Ting, the wealthy tong leader; Suey Lee, the heroine; Wong Wing, hero, and Lee Hoy, father of the girl, are depicted by Chinese actors. The real names of these performers are Tom Hing, Lin Leong, Lee Gow and Hoo Ching, respectively. The production is not staged in Chinese fashion, like the play called "The Yellow Jacket," in which chairs and tables are used to represent mountains, boats and the like. It is put on in the same way other pictures are produced, except that the entire cast is an Oriental one. The first scenes are made in China, giving views of native life. The characters concerned then come to San Francisco, where most of the action takes place in the famous Chinatown section. A good idea is given of the conduct of the Chinese secret societies, known as tongs. The plot concerns a Chinese girl in love with Wong Wing, a grocer's clerk. Ching Ting, tong leader, also desires her and the rivalry between Wong and Ching brings on a warfare in which numerous lives are lost, including that of the girl's father. Harmony is then restored, the tong leader giving the girl over to Wong, and the principal characters return to China. The story itself is entertaining in spite of its simplicity. It contains numerous informing and amusing features, giving the observer an insight into Chinatown lotteries, gambling games of other sorts, and the Celestial life in general in this country. Chinese subtitles are employed, followed by the very necessary translations. Most of the action comes in the last two reels. It makes altogether an enjoyable novelty. – The Moving Picture World, February 24, 1917

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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A wealthy landlord and tong leader falls in love with the beautiful daughter of one of his tenants, a tea-shop merchant. However, a poor employee of the girl's father also loves her, and she loves him. When the tong leader goes to the girl's father to arrange a marriage she refuses him, and her lover tells the tong leader that he loves her and will marry her. The tong leader determines to have the girl for his own and to teach this upstart boy a lesson about defying the leader's wishes.

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Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA

The War of the Tongs

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