

The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
Synopsis
The Curse of Quon Gwon is the oldest known Chinese-American film and one of the earliest American silent features made by a woman. Only two reels of the film survive, and no intertitles are known to exist, making it difficult to parse out the exact plot. An article in the July 17, 1917 issue of The Moving Picture World states that the film "deals with the curse of a Chinese god that follows his people because of the influence of western civilization." The film also touches on themes of Chinese assimilation into American society. Formally premiering in 1917, no distributor was willing to purchase a Chinese-American film without racial stereotypes. Considered a devastating financial failure, the film was only screened two more times until its rediscovery in 2004. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2005.
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The Curse of Quon Gwon (Mandarin Film Company US 1916) (a/p/d)
Type: Teaser • Published 2015-06-12
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
Formal premiere in mid-1917; wasn't thereafter distributed
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Marion E. Wong
- Screenplay & Story
- Marion E. Wong
- Original Title
- The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 35m
- Production Studios
- Mandarin Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Marion E. Wong
Marion E. Wong
Ben Lim, Marion E. Wong
Department Leadership Roster
Marion E. Wong
Director
Ben Lim
Producer
Marion E. Wong
Producer
Marion E. Wong
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
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National Film Registry
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West about?
The Curse of Quon Gwon is the oldest known Chinese-American film and one of the earliest American silent features made by a woman. Only two reels of the film survive, and no intertitles are known to exist, making it difficult to parse out the exact plot. An article in the July 17, 1917 issue of The Moving Picture World states that the film "deals with the curse of a Chinese god that follows his people because of the influence of western civilization." The film also touches on themes of Chinese assimilation into American society. Formally premiering in 1917, no distributor was willing to purchase a Chinese-American film without racial stereotypes. Considered a devastating financial failure, the film was only screened two more times until its rediscovery in 2004. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2005.
Who directed The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West?
The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West was directed by Marion E. Wong.
Who stars in The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West?
The principal cast of The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West includes Violet Wong, Marion E. Wong, Harvey Soo Hoo, Chin Shee.
When was The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West released and how long is it?
The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West was released in 1916 with a total runtime of 35m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West?
The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).

















