Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

Oil for the Lamps of China (1935): Cast & Plot

Oil for the Lamps of China (1935) movie poster

Oil for the Lamps of China is a 1935 drama directed by Mervyn LeRoy, starring Pat O'Brien as Stephen Chase, Paul Panzer and Arthur Byron. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
Oil for the Lamps of China (1935) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Director
Mervyn LeRoy
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Oil for the Lamps of China About?

The premise of Oil for the Lamps of China without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The FLAMING HELL OF THE LAST FRONTIER An American oil company representative almost sacrifices his marriage for his career.

Oil for the Lamps of China Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • cholera epidemic
  • communist revolution
  • pet dog
  • marriage engagement
  • oil fire
  • roll call opening credits
  • murder of friend
  • dismissal
  • ship
  • epidemic
  • kerosene lamp
  • telegram
+38 more
  • jilted fiance
  • idealism
  • chinese servant
  • chow chow
  • death of baby in childbirth
  • cafe
  • attempted robbery
  • chinese man
  • businessman
  • fake romance turns real
  • period drama
  • workplace drama
  • domestic drama
  • american in china
  • american in asia
  • american overseas
  • oil company
  • china
  • fired from a job
  • suicide
  • drought
  • oil lamp
  • invention
  • employer employee relationship
  • childbirth
  • clerk
  • shanghai china
  • shootout
  • self sacrifice
  • oil well
  • patent
  • yokohama japan
  • hotel
  • escape
  • revolution
  • social custom
  • marriage of convenience
  • based on novel
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Oil for the Lamps of China Cast & Characters

Pat O'Brien leads the cast as Stephen Chase, with Paul Panzer as Oil Company Employee and Arthur Byron as No. 1 Boss. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy; 32 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Oil for the Lamps of China

· 28 more
Show all 32 cast members
From the director

More from Mervyn LeRoy

More films directed by Mervyn LeRoy, best-rated first: The Wizard of Oz, Waterloo Bridge, Mister Roberts and Quo Vadis.

Full filmography
Plot

Oil for the Lamps of China Plot Summary

What happens in Oil for the Lamps of China from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Stephen Chase is an ambitious, idealistic executive who joins the Atlantis Oil Company and is sent to a distant outpost in rural China, overseen by the enigmatic No. 1 Boss. The assignment seems like a chance to prove himself and push a grand dream of modernizing the region, even as the outpost operates in a rough, isolated world. After some time, Stephen grows confident enough to summon his fiancée and heads to Yokohama to marry her, hoping to blend his professional mission with a personal one.

Full summary

The whole story of Oil for the Lamps of China, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Oil for the Lamps of China?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the ambitious executive that joins the Atlantis Oil Company?

Seen Oil for the Lamps of China?

FAQ

Oil for the Lamps of China FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Oil for the Lamps of China, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Oil for the Lamps of China?

Oil for the Lamps of China runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Oil for the Lamps of China released?

Oil for the Lamps of China was released on June 8, 1935.

Who directed Oil for the Lamps of China?

Oil for the Lamps of China was directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

More films by Mervyn LeRoy

Who is in the cast of Oil for the Lamps of China?

Oil for the Lamps of China stars Pat O'Brien as Stephen Chase, Paul Panzer as Oil Company Employee and Arthur Byron as No. 1 Boss, among 32 credited actors.

Does Oil for the Lamps of China have a post-credit scene?

No. Oil for the Lamps of China has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app