WHERE EAST IS EAST

US, 1929, 65 minutes, Black and white.
Lon Chaney, Lupe Velez, Estelle Taylor.
Directed by Tod Browning.

Where East is East is a film directed by Tod Browning, director of many silent films during the 1920s, but soon to make his mark with Bela Lugosi and Dracula as well as the cult film, Freaks. He also made Mark of the Vampire, Devil Doll and Miracles for Sale before ending his directing career in 1939.
This film is interesting for its exotic look, suggesting Indochina and its atmosphere. It is also interesting as the third last film for ‘the man with 1000 faces’, Lon Chaney. This is a much more straightforward, even sympathetic role for him. Lupe Velez is exuberant as his daughter. But it is Estelle Taylor as the seductive nymphomaniac, mother of the daughter, former wife of Chaney, intent on luring the daughter’s fiancé, who steals the show with her look, manner, her eyes.

However, it is an old-style melodrama.

1. An interesting silent film? The stars? The director? The last of the silent?

2. Made in Hollywood, re-creating Indochina settings, the jungles, the towns, homes, colonial society, shipping?

3. Title and its implications? About East Asia? For an American audience?

4. Haynes and his trapping the tiger, his work of animals, the caged gorilla at home? His scarred face? At home, his daughter, love for her, protecting her? His wariness of Bobby? Gradually changing attitude, grateful to Bobby with the danger from the tiger? His dealings with Bobby’s father, animals for the circus? The plans for the wedding? On the boat, encounter with his former wife, his dislike of her, of her tactics with Bobby, warning Bobby? Taking him off the boat, the campfire, bringing him to his senses? Return home, the scene of his playing tigers with his daughter, the human touch, the arrival of his former wife, his wanting to get rid of her? Her pretending to love her daughter? Her plan with the boat, taking Bobby? His setting the gorilla on her? His wounds? Protecting his daughter, her marrying Bobby? A straightforward Lon Chaney film?

5. The daughter, vitality, love for her father, falling in love with Bobby, the animal games with her father, trying to persuade him? In love, engagement? Her father’s absence and joy on his return? Her mother’s arrival, believing her, the final betrayal, self-sacrificing in letting Bobby go? His return, the happy ending?

6. The former wife as a vamp, seen on the boat, her visual expressions, her eyes, longing and lust? Setting her cap on Bobby? Her seductive style? Her maid continually reporting to Haynes? Bobby and his infatuation, getting off the boat, coming to her daughter’s wedding, insinuating herself, her daughters affection, her looking at bobby, Haynes and his animosity? Their discussions? His setting the gorilla on her?

7. Bobby, his father and the circus, collecting animals, falling in love with the daughter, the boat trip, friend with her father, the vamp, her seduction, his attraction, kissing, Haynes taking him off the boat, his return, distancing himself from his fiancée, her willingness to let him go, to be happy? The arrival of the mother, seductive again? Her death, his being saved?

8. The maid, sinister, her warnings against her mistress? The Chinese servant and her praying for the removal of evil?

9. The film’s reliance on captions, on silent film acting style? Gestures, looks?

10. An old fashioned melodrama?