The reasons for seeing Toll of the Sea do not include Chester Franklin's direction, the prolific writer Frances Marion's story (Madam Butterfly in China) or the acting of Kenneth Harlan and Beatrice Bentley; the two reasons for seeing this film are the subtle performance by Anna May Wong (seventeen at the time and in her first starring role) and the two-color Technicolor (red and green) cinematography of Ray Rennahan and J.D. Ball This is the earliest surviving film made with this color process and is quite beautiful, with almost all the static shots being exterior shots including ocean waves or masses of trees.
The film is in some ways offensive even by standards of the time, as Lotus Flower (Wong) rescues Allan Carver (Kenneth Harlan) from the ocean, they fall in love and marry "Chinese style" (whatever that means) and Carver returns to America and marries his sweetheart Barbara (Beatrice Bentley). Barbara convinces Allan to return to China and tell Lotus Flower the truth and Lotus Flower gives Barbara and Allen her toddler son (Allan is the father) and drowns herself in the ocean.
Anna May Wong's performance is subtle and touching, as when she thinks she is going to America she gets dressed up in 19th century clothes based on an old book of fashions she has and when Allan returns she wears an elaborate bridal gown to meet him, radiating happiness that quickly turns to sadness.
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