The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932): Cast & Plot
The Bitter Tea of General Yen is a 1932 romantic drama directed by Frank Capra, starring Nils Asther as General Yen, Barbara Stanwyck and Gavin Gordon. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 27m (87 min)
- Director
- Frank Capra
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Bitter Tea of General Yen About?
The premise of The Bitter Tea of General Yen without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
They found a love they dared not touch! An American missionary is gradually seduced by a courtly warlord holding her in Shanghai.
The Bitter Tea of General Yen Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- chapei shanghai
- shanghai china
- military
- interracial romance
- suicide by poison
- 1920s
- tea
- china
- car accident
- loyalty
- tradition
- whistling
+38 more Show fewer
- geisha
- opulence
- silk
- fedora
- army
- train
- riot
- chinese
- pistol
- bilingual
- racial slur
- armed guard
- full moon
- servant
- silver spoon
- swoon
- renegade
- jewelry
- playing cards
- gambling
- spurned
- monk
- poisoned tea
- miscegenation
- erotic dream
- title cowritten by female
- cultural conflict
- planned wedding
- soldier
- pre code film
- infidelity
- crying woman
- dinner guest
- guarantee
- train hijacking
- belief in the afterlife
- sailing boat
- opposites attract
The Bitter Tea of General Yen Cast & Characters
Nils Asther leads the cast as General Yen, with Barbara Stanwyck as Megan Davis and Gavin Gordon as Dr. Robert 'Bob' Strike. Directed by Frank Capra; 23 actors are credited in all.
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Director Frank Capra
- Nils Asther as General Yen
-
Barbara Stanwyck as Megan Davis - Gavin Gordon as Dr. Robert 'Bob' Strike
- Toshia Mori as Mah-Li
Also Starring in The Bitter Tea of General Yen
· 19 more- Walter Connolly Jones
- Richard Loo Captain Li
- Lucien Littlefield Mr. Jacobson
- Nora Cecil Missionary
- Clara Blandick Mrs. Jackson (uncredited)
- Willie Fung Officer (uncredited)
- Jessie Arnold Mrs. Blake
- Helen Jerome Eddy Miss Reed
- Wong Chung Chinese Officer
- Martha Mattox Miss Avery
- Lillian Leighton Missionary
- Robert Bolder Missionary
- Arthur Millett Mr. Pettis
- Emmett Corrigan Bishop Harkness
- Adda Gleason Mrs. Bowman
- Moy Ming Dr. Lin
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Robert Wayne Rev. Bostwick
- Knute Erickson Dr. Hansen
- Ella Hall Mrs. Amelia Hansen
The Bitter Tea of General Yen Plot Summary
What happens in The Bitter Tea of General Yen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the late 1920s Shanghai, as rain-swept streets flood with refugees and the Chinese Civil War tears through the city, a pair of elderly Christian missionaries prepare to celebrate the wedding of Dr. Robert Strike and his childhood sweetheart Megan Davis [Barbara Stanwyck]. The ceremony is interrupted by the grim realities outside—fleeing civilians and the harsh cynicism of some missionaries toward the very people they’ve come to save. Just as Megan arrives, Bob rushes in with a daring plan: he postpones the nuptials to rescue a group of orphans endangered by the war, insisting that Megan accompany him on this perilous mission.
Full summary
The whole story of The Bitter Tea of General Yen, scene by scene
The Bitter Tea of General Yen Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Bitter Tea of General Yen.
How Well Do You Know The Bitter Tea of General Yen?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of Robert Strike in the film?
Seen The Bitter Tea of General Yen?
Movies Like The Bitter Tea of General Yen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Temptation of a Monk, Black Tea and Broken Blossoms.
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Temptation of a Monk 1993 -
Black Tea 2025 -
Broken Blossoms 1919 -
Eat a Bowl of Tea 1989 -
Comrades, Almost a Love Story 1996 -
The Chinese Botanist’s Daughters 2006 -
The Painted Veil 1934 -
The Toll of the Sea 1922 -
The General Died at Dawn 1936 -
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing 1955 -
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice 1952 -
Mr. Wu 1927
The Bitter Tea of General Yen FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Bitter Tea of General Yen, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Bitter Tea of General Yen?
The Bitter Tea of General Yen runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).
When was The Bitter Tea of General Yen released?
The Bitter Tea of General Yen was released on December 25, 1932.
Who directed The Bitter Tea of General Yen?
The Bitter Tea of General Yen was directed by Frank Capra.
More films by Frank Capra Who is in the cast of The Bitter Tea of General Yen?
The Bitter Tea of General Yen stars Nils Asther as General Yen, Barbara Stanwyck as Megan Davis and Gavin Gordon as Dr. Robert 'Bob' Strike, among 23 credited actors.
Does The Bitter Tea of General Yen have a post-credit scene?
No. The Bitter Tea of General Yen has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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