MovieChat Forums > The Toll of the Sea (1923) Discussion > Madame Butterfly / Miss Saigon

Madame Butterfly / Miss Saigon

posted 16 years ago by mikeoak840
3 replies | jump to latest

Isn't this story just an adaptation (some would said plagerization) of Puccini's Madame Butterfly, later adapted into Miss Saigon?

American man in the Orient meets & falls in love with an Asian woman (China, Japan, Vietnam). His friends soon convince him he can't bring her home to America. He departs, not knowing she's pregnant with his child. They meet a few years later, when he's married to an American woman. She gives the child to them to raise and commits suicide.

[–] Devans00 16 years ago

I guess a lot of American (or European) men were selfish bastards who married and impregnated women in China and Japan, ran off and married an American (or European) woman as if their original wife wasn't a valid human being. According to Wikipedia, The Toll of the Sea is a variation of Madame Butterfly set in China instead of Japan.

I hate movies where the women bend over backwards to avoid inconveniencing the man and making him stand up to his responsibilities. Why shouldn't Carver know that he had a legitimate son as a result of insincerely playing house? So annoying.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] dalmain 10 years ago

This is just a depressing movie. I'm glad I saw it, it's a piece of history.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

I agree it's a sad story but as far as it being a 'piece of history' that's not exactly the case. That kind of stuff continues today. There's always someone who's considered inappropriate as the spouse but perfectly okay for the moment. It's convenient when they're in another country but sometimes they're in another town or just another part of town. It's a common theme; both in the movies and in life.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]