http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Blossoms
Broken Blossoms, aka "The Yellow Man and the Girl", is a silent film made in 1919. The significance of this film is tied to the era in which the film was made. This was the time of yellow peril and fu manchu novels/films. Yet, Broken Blossoms portrayed a Chinese man (played by white actor) and his relationship with a young white women in positive light. Westerners are more familiar with Christian missionaries going to China to convert the "heathens", yet the Chinese character in this film was a Buddhist missionary coming to America to preach Buddhism. Very "alt culture" for 1919!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 7327735796#
