Watch Daughter of the Tong
- Approved
- 1939
- 53 min
-
4.7 (198)
Daughter of the Tong is a 1939 crime drama directed by Ray Taylor and starring Evelyn Brent, Grant Withers, and Dorothy Short. The film tells the story of Linda Wung (Brent), a Chinese-American woman who is forced to navigate the criminal underworld of Chinatown in order to clear her father's name. The film opens with Linda's father, Jason Wung (Tetsu Komai), being accused of murder. Linda is convinced of her father's innocence and decides to investigate the case on her own. She discovers that the real killer is a member of the Tong, a powerful Chinese criminal organization that controls Chinatown.
In order to find evidence to clear her father's name, Linda goes undercover in the Tong. She meets Detective James Lee (Withers) who is also investigating the Tong and they team up to take down the organization. Along the way, Linda also meets Lee's sister Mary (Short) who is engaged to one of the Tong's leaders.
As Linda and James dig deeper into the Tong's criminal activities, they become targets of the organization's assassins. They narrowly escape several close calls and ultimately discover the evidence they need to exonerate Linda's father. In the end, Linda and James are able to bring down the Tong and restore justice to Chinatown.
Daughter of the Tong is a rare glimpse into the history of Asian representation in Hollywood cinema during the 1930s. The film features several talented Asian-American actors and actresses in prominent roles, which was uncommon for the era. However, the film also reflects some of the problematic stereotypes and attitudes towards Asian Americans that were prevalent in Hollywood at the time.
Despite these flaws, Daughter of the Tong is a well-crafted crime thriller that manages to balance action and suspense with themes of family, loyalty, and justice. The film's diverse cast and intricate plot make it a worthwhile watch for anyone interested in Hollywood history or crime dramas.
Daughter of the Tong is a 1939 thriller with a runtime of 53 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.