The Tong Man | 1919 | Drama Crime

Title: The Tong Man | 1919 | Drama Crime Director: William Worthington Studio: Sessue Hayakawa’s Haworth Pictures Corporation Starring: Sessue Hayakawa, Fritzi Ridgeway, Tsuru Aoki Release Date: 1919 Runtime: 50 Minutes Format: Silent, Black and White Country: United States Language: Silent --- Summary: The Tong Man is a drama set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown, focusing on the power struggles within a tong society. The story follows a young man caught between loyalty to his community and the pursuit of justice, highlighting themes of honor, cultural conflict, and redemption in an era of societal tension. --- Background: The Tong Man was produced by Haworth Pictures Corporation, a studio founded by Sessue Hayakawa, one of the first Asian actors to gain stardom in American cinema. The film is notable for its portrayal of Asian characters by Asian actors during a period when such representation was uncommon. It reflects early 20th century interests in exoticism and social issues within immigrant communities. --- Trivia: Sessue Hayakawa not only starred in the film but was also instrumental in its production through his own company. The film is one of the relatively few surviving works featuring Asian actors in prominent roles from the silent era. The storyline incorporates elements of Chinese American culture, though filtered through early Hollywood perspectives. The Tong Man is preserved as part of early silent film archives and remains an important piece for studying race and representation in cinema history. --- Hashtags: TheTongMan SilentFilm SessueHayakawa HaworthPictures Chinatown Drama Crime