The Curse of Quon Gwon
Encyclopedia
The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West is a 1916-1917 black-and-white
silent
film
. It was apparently never released and long thought lost. It was restored in 2006 by the Academy Film Archive
from the two reels helped preserved by filmmaker Arthur Dong
. As of 2007, it is the earliest known Chinese American
feature film
. It is also one of the earliest films directed by a woman, Marion Wong. In 1968, Violet Wong, told her grandson Gregory Mark, "There's an old film in the basement, you do something with it." Mark turned it into 16mm, and a year later, Violet showed the film to her family at Christmas. Parts of the film are still missing.
In December 2006 the film was recognized as a culturally, historically and aesthetically significant film by the National Film Registry
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
silent
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. It was apparently never released and long thought lost. It was restored in 2006 by the Academy Film Archive
Academy Film Archive
The Academy Film Archive is part of the Academy Foundation, established in 1944 with the purpose of organizing and overseeing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ educational and cultural activities, including the preservation of motion picture history...
from the two reels helped preserved by filmmaker Arthur Dong
Arthur Dong
Arthur Dong is an Academy Award-nominated American documentary filmmaker. His work combines the art of the visual medium with an investigation of social issues, examining topics such as Asian American history and identity, and gay oppression...
. As of 2007, it is the earliest known Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
. It is also one of the earliest films directed by a woman, Marion Wong. In 1968, Violet Wong, told her grandson Gregory Mark, "There's an old film in the basement, you do something with it." Mark turned it into 16mm, and a year later, Violet showed the film to her family at Christmas. Parts of the film are still missing.
In December 2006 the film was recognized as a culturally, historically and aesthetically significant film by the National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...