''The Flame of Love'' is a 1930 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

, that is a love story between Russian military officer and a Chinese actress. Directed by

Richard Eichberg Richard Eichberg (27 October 1888 – 8 May 1952) was a German film director and producer. He directed 87 films between 1915 and 1949. He also produced 77 films between 1915 and 1950. He was born in Berlin, Germany and died in Munich, Germ ...

and

Walter Summers Walter Summers (1892–1973) was a British film director and screenwriter. Biography Born in Barnstaple to a family of actors, British motion picture director Walter Summers began his career in the family trade; his first contact with filmma ...

it stars

Anna May Wong Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain intern ...

and

John Longden John Longden (11 November 1900 – 26 May 1971) was an English film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1926 and 1964, including five films directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Biography Longden was born in the West Indies, the son o ...

and has a running time of 74 minutes. This film has also been released under the title ''Road to Dishonour''. It was made at

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

British International Pictures Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned appr ...

. Separate French (''

Hai-Tang ''Hai-Tang'' is a 1930 British-German drama film directed by Richard Eichberg and Jean Kemm and starring Anna May Wong, Marcel Vibert and Robert Ancelin.St. Pierre p.83 It was made at Elstree Studios as the French-language version of ''The Flame ...

'') and German-language versions ('' The Road to Dishonour'') of the film were also made and released. The film's sets were designed by Clarence Elder,

Willi Herrmann Willi Herrmann (1893–1968) was a German art director. Selected filmography * '' Madness'' (1919) * '' Child on the Open Road'' (1919) * '' Jettatore'' (1919) * '' Humanity Unleashed'' (1920) * '' The Secrets of Berlin'' (1921) * '' The Mahar ...

and

Werner Schlichting Werner Schlichting (1904–1996) was a German art director who worked on over a hundred films during a lengthy career. He worked on a number of Austrian films including '' The Congress Dances'' and '' The Last Ten Days'' (1955).Fritsche p.253 Sel ...

Synopsis

''The Flame of Love'' is the story of a beautiful young Chinese actress who falls in love with a Russian military officer. While performing one night, the Grand Duke sees Hai-Tang (

Wong Wong may refer to: Name * Wong (surname), a Chinese surname Places * Wong Chuk Hang, an area to the east of Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island * Wong Chuk Hang Estate, a public housing estate in Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong * Wong Chuk Hang Road, a ...

) on stage and immediately decides he must have her for himself. The Grand Duke orders the officer Hai-Tang has fallen for (Boris) to bring her to his room, and after a night of drinking he tries to make love to Hai-Tang. Her brother sees this unfolding and wounds the Grand Duke, resulting in him being punished by death. Hai-Tang decides to give in to the Grand Dukes sexual temptation in return for her brothers freedom. The Grand Duke accepts this offer but then learns of the love affair between Hai-Tang and his Lieutenant Boris. After finding this out, the Grand Duke releases Hai-Tang from her bargain as long as she leave Russia and never see Boris again.

Cast

as Hai Tang *

Georg H. Schnell Georg Heinrich Schnell (11 April 1878 – 31 March 1951) was a German actor who remains perhaps best-known for his role as shipowner Harding in ''Nosferatu, Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens'' (1922). Georg appeared in over one hundred fi ...

as Grand Duke *

as Lieutenant Boris Boriskoff *

Percy Standing Percy Standing (26 October 1882 – 17 September 1950) was an English film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 42 films between 1913 and 1934. He was born in Lambeth, London and died in Placer County, California. Selected filmography ...

as Col. Moravjev * Mona Goya as Yvette * Fred Schwartz as Birnbaum * Ley On as Wang Hu

References

* * * 1930 films 1930s historical drama films British historical drama films 1930s English-language films Films directed by Richard Eichberg Films directed by Walter Summers British multilingual films Films set in Russia Films set in the 1900s British black-and-white films 1930 multilingual films 1930 drama films Films shot at British International Pictures Studios 1930s British films {{1930s-UK-film-stub

Synopsis

Cast

See also

References