The Curse of Quon Gwon (1916)
with live piano accompaniment
Fri, Jan 31, 25 8:00PM
Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 W Sierra Madre Blvd
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Step into cinematic history with the earliest known Chinese American feature film and one of the first American films directed by a woman. This 1916 silent masterpiece, accompanied by live piano, explores themes of cultural conflict, love, and tradition within a Chinese-American family, offering a rare glimpse into early Asian American storytelling.
Artists
*Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre, Sierra Madre Playhouse, and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
About
Directed by Marion E. Wong and filmed in Oakland, California, The Curse of Quon Gwon is a groundbreaking piece of filmmaking that was nearly lost to history. Created by Wong’s Mandarin Film Company, the film sought to introduce Chinese culture to American audiences. Featuring members of Wong’s family in its cast, the story unfolds with poignant drama as a Chinese-American family navigates the tension between Westernization and traditional values.
Long thought lost, only two of the original seven or eight reels were rediscovered and restored in 2005. These surviving fragments reveal a love story rich in cultural nuance, with Wong herself playing the villain. The film was added to the National Film Registry for its immense historical and cultural significance.
Join us for a live-piano-accompanied screening of this rare gem and experience a vital piece of early Asian American filmmaking—a testament to Marion E. Wong's vision and courage as a pioneer in cinema.
