The Dragon Painter (1919) ... gets several big things right even if it’s also very much a product of its time.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Sep 24, 2024

Sessue Hayakawa and [Tsuru] Aoki are a talented couple and have screen technique at their finger tips. A lively intelligence is evident in all their work.

| Mar 16, 2023

[Hayakawa] has the power, above anyone I know, to project those stories upon the screen amid the most ideally suitable and beautiful settings... he does this by some magic means which enhances the spectator's feeling for the drama.

| May 18, 2021

It is a screen telling of a tale that is full of heart interest and pathos, with a twist at the end that relives the heavy tragedy that has hung over the story for about two reels.

| May 18, 2021

A simple story of great beauty and appeal, The Dragon Painter is distinguished by... striking photographic studies and gorgeous settings.

| May 18, 2021

The role of Tatsu, the mad artist, affords [Hayakawa] a totally different type of character to portray than any he has attempted. His conception of the part is inherently artistic.

| May 18, 2021

The story is original in character, supplying a wealth of romanticism. Its screen development at times lacks sufficient incident to accelerate the action. The production is high class, clean of moral and beautiful in conception.

| May 18, 2021

We can only give the production the highest praise.

| May 18, 2021

At just under an hour, The Dragon Painter is too spare and short to be much more than a quaint fable. Still, Hayakawa is never less than magnetic, whether he's sketching by a waterfall or mingling awkwardly in society circles.

| May 18, 2021

The film is compelling for its mythic underpinnings and Hayakawa's sensitive performance.

| May 18, 2021

It is art in acting; art in photography; art in direction; art in subtitle. It is as exquisite and complete a thing as I have ever seen on the screen.

| Dec 12, 2020

They had an idea here all right and Bill Worthington has given a remarkably artistic atmospheric background but they failed to provide enough story incident and so it misses.

| Jul 27, 2020

Despite its contradictory ending, however, The Dragon Painter is impressive, and Hayakawa's interpretation of the leading role is clear and convincing.

| Dec 27, 2019

[Hayakawa gives] a wonderful performance that's part comic, part plain odd... The film is a kind of visually sophisticated fairy tale, with tinting (best is the moonlit blue of the night scenes) and neatly composed interiors and silhouettes.

| Dec 27, 2019

Even the greatest of silent film enthusiasts will be hard pressed to recommend it...

| Apr 24, 2008

For social significance, if not artistic depth, the film deserves a contemporary audience.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 11, 2008

It's a simple story with some lovely images and a terrific performance by Hayakawa.

| Mar 20, 2008

This disc offers two silent films of America's first Asian film star, both with memorably melodic musical scores.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 18, 2008

The Dragon Painter is a stunning visual and emotional achievement.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Mar 16, 2008

The most amazing thing about The Dragon Painter isn't so much that it has been rescued, restored and released on DVD, or that it's quite good, but that it ever existed at all

| Mar 13, 2008