The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933)

This is one of the best movies made by Frank Capra. Even though there are very famous movies of him like "Its a Wonderful Life", this movie represents one of his best work. Although this was not a box office success when it was released, this movie is intensely made and it deserves all the acclaim that it got today. Each and every emotion is intensely depicted. This movie is about ill-fated love between a certain Chinese Warlord called Yen and a American Missionary known as Megan Davis (played by Barbara Stanwyck). Initially the movie shows two young missionaries (Bob and Davis) in China who are to be married. Their marriage gets postponed as they had to save some orphans in the spreading Civil War. Bob asks General Yen to give him a safe passage pass, but Yen does not believe at all in this missionary stuff, so he handles him a worthless paper describing his foolishness. So when Bob and Davis tries to save the orphans amidst of this Civil war, the chaos strikes them and both get unconscious and get separated. Davis gains her consciousness in the Yen's private train. From then onwards Yen develops a dangerous fascination towards this extremely beautiful and high spirited Davis (american missionary). Slowly as the movie progresses Davis' own attraction towards Yen is brilliantly depicted by Capra in a dream in which she allows him to kiss her. The costumes used are totally exotic and beautiful. The movie content is highly controversial and it is even banned in England for depicting a missionary fall in love with a cruel Chinese warlord.