AllMovie

Based on a 1908 French novel by Claude Farrére, this silent melodrama stars the husband-and-wife team of Sessue Hayakawa and Tsuru Aoki. Hayakawa plays a Japanese nobleman who, while away on a secret mission, learns of his wife's dalliance with a British naval officer (Felix Ward). Retaliating, Hayakawa has the his rival transferred to his battleship where their cultural differences quickly surface. Wounded in battle, Hayakawa forces the Briton to take over command of the battleship, thus ensuring his quick demise. Having rid himself of his rival, Hayakawa brings about a reconciliation with his wife, forcing her back to a life more in keeping with their ancient traditions. Produced in France in 1923, La Bataille was released in America the following year as The Danger Line. The story was remade in 1934, again as La Bataille and starring Charles Boyer and Annabella. An English-language version featuring Boyer and Merle Oberon was filmed simultaneously and released as Thunder in the East.