A Chinese character with a substantial role

While many Hollywood westerns had Chinese characters in them, few had substantial roles. They were usually just bit parts. (There were way more TV westerns that featured Chinese actors in prominent guest-starring roles; just look up the leading Asian actors in Hollywood in the 1950s and early ’60s and you’ll see lots of TV western appearances in their filmographies.) In THE CARIBOO TRAIL, Lee Tung Foo plays Ling, the chuck wagon driver and cook for Scott’s cattle operation. When Scott needs a grubstake for gold prospecting, Ling produces his life savings and Scott agrees to make him a full partner. Later on, Ling seeks work with Karin Booth at the town saloon, where he is hired as a cook. He later rejoins Scott for a new cattle drive. So he’s in the entire film from beginning to end. His ethnicity is also frequently acknowledged. Town boss Jory refers to him as “that Chinese gentleman” and Gabby Hayes keeps calling him “Confucius,” to which Ling responds loudly, “Name’s Ling!,” and tells a disbelieving Ling tall tales about going to China and visiting “the Maharajee of Hong Kong.” This kind of inclusion was quite rare. Lee acted in Hollywood from 1932 to 1962. I’ve seen many of his films and he usually just had bit parts as a cook or waiter or laundryman, although he has an excellent scene as the Chinese Ambassador in MISSION TO MOSCOW (1943).