Roar of the Dragon


1h 8m 1932
Roar of the Dragon

Brief Synopsis

Bandits menace Americans on a Chinese riverboat.

Film Details

Genre
Adventure
War
Release Date
Jul 8, 1932
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel A Passage to Hong Kong by George Kibbe Turner (publication undetermined).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

From their remote inland hideout, Voronsky and his savage gang of Tartar bandits plan a raid on a Mandarian coast town, where Natascha, a Russian beauty whom Voronsky desires, is hiding. Warned of the bandits' arrival, Chauncey Carson, the alcoholic captain of a commercial steamboat, hurries to ready his boat for departure, pushed by Johnson, his cowardly employer, and other anxious white people who are staying at the town's hotel. There, Carson meets Natascha, a former captive and sexual slave of Voronsky's, who begs him to take her on his boat. Sure that she is a spy, the hard-boiled Carson demands sex from Natascha in exchange for her passage, and she is about to comply when Voronsky's men attack the hotel. Carson, who in a previous encounter with Voronsky had chopped off his ear, hastily sets up a machine gun and turns back the attackers. Although safe inside, the hotel's occupants, who include Helen, a young American entertainer, her admirer Busby, an engineer, and a group of Chinese orphans, discover they are surrounded by the bandits and have a limited supply of food. After Busby and Helen find a goat in a nearby stable and milk it to provide nourishment for the children, Carson catches a Voronsky spy sneaking around the hotel, then notices a group of bandits sawing the hotel's water pipes. Unknown to Carson, another Voronsky spy has sent a message to his boss informing him of Natascha's apparent interest in the captain. Furious at his men's inability to take the hotel, Voronsky sets off for town, while Natascha, who had threatened Johnson with a gun because he wanted to kill the goat for its meat, is accepted by Carson. Just before Voronsky's arrival, Helen is shot and killed by a bandit while passing in front of a window. Then, Sholem, a Jewish butcher, is caught and burned at the stake by Voronsky as he tries to run from the hotel to his shop. By creating a diversion at the hotel's gate, Voronsky is able to penetrate the building and locate Natascha. As Voronsky is leaving with Natascha, however, Carson knocks his gun away and exposes the rest of the bandits to the machine gun, which is manned by a revenge-hungry Busby. Temporarily reprieved, Carson orders the group to flee to the boat while he fights Voronsky. Made brave by his desire for vengeance, Busby remains behind with Carson but is stabbed by Voronsky. Incensed, Carson kills Voronsky, then risks his life to carry the wounded Busby to the boat. Once safely on board, Carson holds a dying Busby in his arms and is comforted by Natascha.

Film Details

Genre
Adventure
War
Release Date
Jul 8, 1932
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel A Passage to Hong Kong by George Kibbe Turner (publication undetermined).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

In an RKO studio memorandum, executive sales manager Ned Depinet complained about David Selznick's insistence that Edward Everett Horton, a free-lance actor, be paid $3,500 per week for his work on this picture. According to Depinet, "Horton is not worth $3,500 per week or anything like that amount. While he is reputed to an excellent actor, he has not five cents worth of box office and for many people, myself among them, he does as much to ruin a picture as to help it." Modern sources add Toshia Mori to the cast. According to modern sources, William LeBaron was to be credited as the film's producer, but the credit was removed as apart of a contract settlement with RKO.