The Tong Man

The Chinese consul-general C. H. Chu attempted to ban The Tong Man (1919) in San Francisco, CA, where the story was also set. Clyde Westover argued that his novel was based on first-hand observations of the city's Chinatown district during his tenure as a newspaper reporter. Two weeks later, the Chinese Six Companies, described as the most powerful Asian-American association in the U.S., attempted to obtain a court order to prevent the film from being shown in San Francisco. A private screening was held for the presiding judge, who decided in favor of the defendant, distributor Robertson-Cole Co. The company had two similar victories in Buffalo, NY, and Portland, OR. The Chinese consul-general in New York City was instrumental in banning The Tong Man (1919) in Hartford, CT, and Rochester, NY.

When Luk Chen escapes to the roof of the building, he leaves the hatch door open (i.e., in the "up" position). After running from the police and his enemies, he returns to the hatch and has to reopen it to reenter the building.