Masterpiece Selection Resonating with the Themes of Broken China: Cult Guide

The Broken China Phenomenon

With Harold Beaudine at the helm, Broken China became to reinvent the tropes of Comedy cinema for a global audience.

Bobby asks permission to marry Betty, but her father, who is Chief of Police, refuses, telling Bobby that she can only marry a policeman and that he has promised her hand to Artie, the new Lieutenant. Just then Artie comes in and tells Bobby he is to announce their engagement that night at the Policeman's Ball. Bobby leaves telling Betty he will see her that night. Bobby, masquerading in a policeman's outfit, arrives at the ball, but is thrown out. As he is walking along, a patrol wagon comes by, filled with police on their way to raid Chinatown. They see Bobby and thinking him an officer, pull him into the wagon. When the patrol reaches Chinatown, the Lieutenant order. Bobby to patrol the street and tells him to stay there. They depart, leaving Bobby all alone and a bit scared. As he sits on a garbage can a little Chinese boy places a big firecracker in it and when it explodes, Bobby lands in an underground Chinese den. Won Lung, a notorious smuggler, is seated in Buddha fashion when Bobby arrives. In his endeavor to see him better, Bobby ignites Won's beard with a candle and when Won discovers it, he starts after Bobby. In the meantime, the Chief of Police, Betty and Artie arrive with the other police. In the den, Won and Bobby are having a fight and the Chinaman is just about to kill Bobby when he knocks him out. Hiding behind Won, he directs the Chinamen to get out of the den. The ground opens and one by one they land in the patrol wagon. Finally, Bobby arrives with Won Lung and the police recognize him as the smuggler. The Chief of Police congratulates Bobby and gives him his daughter and his blessing. As they embrace the street opens and they disappear down below.