Star Tribune: THE DRAGON PAINTER (1919)
Bruce Calvert
SILENT
"The Dragon Painter" (Milestone, $30)
Only recently restored, this 1919 American silent film tells the Japanese
story of a great, untutored painter who is adopted as a protégé by a great
artist and marries his daughter, only to have domestic tranquillity ruin his
art. Shot mostly outdoors -- Yosemite stands in for the mountains of
northern Japan -- it's a fable of art and love, with original tints and a
lovely new score. In his portrayal of an artistic wild child, Sessue
Hayakawa is amazing. The film runs 53 minutes, so another Hayakawa film,
"The Wrath of the Gods," has been added. Also featured is a script and a
silent short in which Hayakawa cavorts with Fatty Arbuckle and Charles
Murray.
SCOTT EYMAN, COX NEWS SERVICE
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Bruce Calvert
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