The Courageous Coward

50min

Drama

Sessue Hayakawa was making the transition from Asian villain to sympathetic hero in this picture. The plot is a combination of racial stereotypes that were common in the U.S. during the silent era and real-life situations experienced by Asians living Stateside. Hayakawa plays Suki Iota, a student who, while born and bred in America, wants a wife with traditional Japanese values. She appears in the form of Rei (Tsuru Aoki, Hayakawa's real-life wife), a singer who becomes known as the Japanese Nightingale.

Cast

Tsuru Aoki

Tsuru Aoki

Rei Oaki
George Hernandez

George Hernandez

Big Bill Kirby
Francis McDonald

Francis McDonald

Tom Kirby (as Francis J. McDonald)
Charles A. Post

Charles A. Post

Cupid (as Buddy Post)

Release date

31st Mar 1919

Status

Released

Spoken languages

No Language