How was this film recieved by audiences?
Title
Last film seen -- "Gone Baby Gone" 4.5/10
Did you mean audiences in 1922? Or in 2007?
I ask this because I was fortunate enough to see it on the Silver Screen in (Anna) May 2007 and it was fairly well-received by the (admittedly small) audience at the Stanford Theatre. Of course, the Stanford serves an older audience that really seems to go for silent films, so I'm afraid I'm not sure how the film would have gone over with a more "mainstream" audience.
No, I mean 1922 audiences.
Last film seen -- "Meet The Spartans" 3/10
I think I heard it was well received when it was initially released. It's always hard to tell though because in those days the prejudice against Asians and, well, most ethnic people, was rampant.
In the movie, I was surprised Elsie didn't have a problem with the fact her husband had had a Chinese wife. Miscegenation was not allowed in the US but clearly they had been 'together' since they had a son. It didn't seem to be an issue with Elsie but I wonder how American audiences would have felt about it. Apparently they couldn't even handle seeing an interracial couple kiss on screen.
The fact the movie had a 'happy' ending (he ended up with the 'right' girl and the child went with them) made it acceptable. There might have been all kinds of outrage if he had chosen to go back to his Chinese wife and their child.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]