Broken Blossoms | |
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![]() Hungarian Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | D. W. Griffith |
Written by | D. W. Griffith |
Based on | "The Chink and the Child" by Thomas Burke |
Produced by | D. W. Griffith |
Starring | Lillian Gish Richard Barthelmess Donald Crisp |
Cinematography | G.W. Bitzer |
Edited by | James Smith |
Music by | Joseph Turrin (2001 DVD release) |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Budget | $88,000[1] or $115,000[2] |
Box office | $600,000 (US)[1] or $1.25 million[2] |
Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl, often referred to simply as Broken Blossoms, is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. It was distributed by United Artists and premiered on May 13, 1919. It stars Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, and Donald Crisp, and tells the story of young girl, Lucy Burrows, who is abused by her alcoholic prizefighting father, Battling Burrows, and meets Cheng Huan, a kind-hearted Chinese man who falls in love with her. It was the first film distributed by United Artists. It is based on Thomas Burke's short story "The Chink and the Child" from the 1916 collection Limehouse Nights. In 1996, Broken Blossoms was included in the annual selection of 25 motion pictures to be added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.[3]