The Courageous Coward

Sessue Hayakawa was making the transition from Asian villain to sympathetic hero in this picture. The plot is a combination of racial stereotypes that were common in the U.S. during the silent era and real-life situations experienced by Asians living Stateside. Hayakawa plays Suki Iota, a student who, while born and bred in America, wants a wife with traditional Japanese values. She appears in the form of Rei (Tsuru Aoki, Hayakawa's real-life wife), a singer who becomes known as the Japanese Nightingale.

Country:

United States of America

Genre:

Drama

Duration:

50 minutes

Year:

1919

Director:

William Worthington

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Company:

Haworth Pictures Corporation

Cast:

Suki Iota

Rei Oaki

Tangi

Big Bill Kirby

Tom Kirby (as Francis J. McDonald)

Crew:

Director

Story

Writer

Director of Photography