Thunder in the East
Cast & Crew
Nicolas Farkas
Charles Boyer
John Loder
Merle Oberon
Betty Stockfeld
Valery Inkijinoff
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
The Marquis Yorisaka, an officer in the Japanese Navy, returns home to Nagasaki from a major victory at sea, and is hailed by all as a hero. Aboard his ship during the battle was Commander Fergan, a neutral observer for the admiralty of England. Yorisaka feels that the naval battle, though considered a victory by most, was mishandled, and seeks to gain Fergan's report, fearful that it might be critical of his beloved navy and country. While on shore, Fergan seeks the attention of wealthy Betty Hockley, who, in turn, is sought after by the painter Felze. Later, at Yorisaka's home, Felze convinces Yorisaka's wife, to pose for him. While the artist paints her portrait, the Marquise comes under the lustful Fergan's eye. While Yorisaka acts western in front of Fergan and his friends, he is very eastern in his thinking, and orders his wife to obey his every whim. The Marquise is confused by husband's changing ways, and tells him that she is afraid that she might lose herself in the constant change and games her husband plays. Yorisaka, despite his love for his wife, orders the Marquise to seduce Fergan, so that the Japanese officer might gain access to the report. The Marquise begs her husband not to force her to do this, as she is afraid that, because of Yorisaka's lack of attention and affection, she might fall in love with Fergan. Yorisaka ignores his wife's pleas and arranges for Fergan to take his wife to a dance on Betty's yacht. While the Englishman is away with his wife, Yorisaka searches his apartment, finds the report and copies it. Before he can make his escape, however, the couple returns and Yorisaka learns that Fergan and his wife have fallen in love. Yorisaka blames himself for this, not the couple. The Japanese fleet is sent to sea once again, and in the ensuing battle, Yorisaka is wounded. The Japanese officer then forces Fergan to take over his command, reciting the Englishman's words of love to his wife, and the once neutral observer is killed while leading the Japanese fleet to victory in the battle. With his honor gone and no longer of service to his country, Yorisaka commits suicide by hari-kari.
Director
Nicolas Farkas
Cast
Charles Boyer
John Loder
Merle Oberon
Betty Stockfeld
Valery Inkijinoff
Miles Mander
Henri Fabert
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Hari-Kari. This film was released in Great Britain under the title The Battle. According to Variety, French and English versions were shot simultaneously. The French version, titled La bataille, was also directed by Nicolas Farkas and starred Charles Boyer and Annabella. Variety also reported that this was cinematographer Farkas' first film as a director, and that producer Léon Garganoff paid $10,000 for footage of a sinking battleship from the Fox film The First World War. There is some discrepencey about the U.S. distributor for this film, as most contemporary sources state that the film was distributed by United Artists, though Variety stated that there was a last minute disagreement between Garganoff and United Artists, so the film was initially distributed independently by Garganoff himself. According to Film Daily, the French version was released in the U.S. by John S. Tapernoux. Press materials indictate that actor Charles Boyer played the same role in an earlier theatrical version of the play in France, and that the French flagship Jean-Bart was loaned to producer Garganoff for the production of this film by the French government. The film was selected by New York Times for their annual "Ten-Best" list in 1934. The source material had previously been filmed in France in 1923, starring Sessue Hayakawa and Tsuru Aoki, and directed by Edouard-Emile Violet.
