BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN, THE (1933) Photo

[Hollywood: Columbia Pictures, 1933] Vintage original 10 x 8″ (25 x 20 cm.) black-and-white print still photo, fine.

Director Frank Capra’s film is certainly one of the ultimate pre-Code masterpieces, which deals with subject matter which would very shortly be considered taboo.

In this portrait of Barbara Stanwyck, which represents the film’s dramatic finale, she is wearing the elaborate, richly embroidered dress which General Yen (Nils Asther) had offered her early in the film, which she had spurned (along with his sexual advances). Here, in wearing the dress, she indicates her willingness to sleep with a man of color.