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Originally posted by Airbolt

Western actors playing oriental characters is a subject that has had forests written about it. Up until fairly recently ( in film terms ) it would be acceptable for a western actor to put on fake eyelids to play chinese or japanese. Of course, we have moved on and thankfully so.

So, it was quite a shock to see one of the more bizarre examples in a little-known thirties film "The Battle" ( 1933 ). I came across it by accident in a BFI archive. It was set in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905 ( not a subject often seen in western films ). In the actual war the Russian Navy essentially got it's clock cleaned twice by the Japanese. The movie picks up from this point as Charles Boyer portrays the victorious Japanese Captain.

Well. I say Japanese. I'm not sure if it's the rather odd english dub but Boyer speaks like a french lounge lizard on mogadon. His prosthetic eyelids are enhanced by luxurious eyelashes with a full ration of eyeliner and mascara. At this point the camp level is already dangerously high but his voice really puts the mercury off the scale ( pun intended ). It's a curiously fey french lounge lizard concoction.

If thats not camp enough he seems very fond of the jolly english twit of a sailor that the Royal Navy have sent as an observer. Ah, but before Quentin Tarantino can have his reading, the film reminds us that Boyer is ( of course ) all man! His lovely oriental wife ( played by a caucasian actress ) is like something from Star Trek in the eyebrow area. Her role is to form the apex of the ( yawn ) love triangle.

Another curiousity is the historical context. I must admit to having researched a little into the Japanese history and found that up until the 1920's Japan was considered an ally of the UK. In WW1 Japan assisted the UK in capturing some German colonies. Things could have turned out better if not for two things. Firstly - the thinly veiled contempt that western eyes had for the "oriental" scuppered any expansion of the alliance. The Japanese wanted recognition of racial equality written into the alliance - it was a matter of huge importance. Of course, that never happened - in fact the opposite tack was taken.

To paraphrase, the UK got "leaned on" in the 20's to choose sides. The US had specific ideas about the Pacific. It wasn't keen on the Empires ( England, France, Netherlands ) but liked stabilty over "local" control. The UK chose to side with the US and the rest is...well. you know the rest.

Well, sorry about the history lecture! I just found that it was very unusual to have a 30's film with the Japanese as the heroes that it might be worth mentioning.

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Originally posted by Sean

Did you watch the French-language version La bataille (1933) or the English dub (with some editing it appears) The Battle (1934)?

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