The Flame of Love

The Flame of Love

Year: 1930

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: English

Directors: Richard Eichberg, Walter Summers

DramaMusicRomance

A Chinese troupe star and the Grand Duke’s adjutant fall in love, to tensions from both sides’ respective comrades.

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Timeline – The Flame of Love (1930)

Trace every key event in The Flame of Love (1930) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Love blossoms between Hai-Tang and Boris

Hai-Tang, star of the Chinese Troupe, and Boris Borissoff fall in love, despite the tension of court politics and social expectations. Their romance develops in a world where powerful figures threaten to pull them apart.

2

Yvette warns Boris off Hai-Tang

Yvette, the Colonel's mistress and a star at the Orpheum, reminds Boris of how she helped secure his appointment and warns him to keep away from Hai-Tang. She cautions him to maintain decency and hints at career damage if he ignores her.

Orpheum club
3

Farewell banquet and Hai-Tang's performance

During the Grand Duke's farewell banquet, the Chinese Troupe performs and Hai-Tang sings and dances. The Grand Duke's lust for her becomes the backdrop for a coercive demand that follows.

Evening during the farewell banquet Grand Duke's banquet hall
4

The 1 a.m. assignment: Hai-Tang to dine with the Grand Duke

Boris is ordered to ensure Hai-Tang dines with the Grand Duke at 1 a.m. He accepts the assignment, fully aware it will thrust Hai-Tang into danger and test their loyalties.

1 a.m. Grand Duke's residence
5

Hai-Tang agrees to comply with orders

Hai-Tang reluctantly agrees to go to the Orpheum to fulfil the order, recognizing that Boris’s disobedience would risk both their futures. She understands the peril of the position but sacrifices her own comfort for her people.

1 a.m. Orpheum
6

The Grand Duke's assault and Wang-Hu's intervention

At the Grand Duke’s door, the Grand Duke assaults Hai-Tang in a drunken frenzy while Boris keeps guard outside. Wang-Hu intervenes by drawing his weapon, shooting and wounding the Grand Duke as a protective act.

1 a.m. Grand Duke's private chamber
7

Wang-Hu sentenced to death; dawn execution planned

The following day, Wang-Hu is sentenced to death. Boris pleads for mercy, but the Grand Duke signs the death warrant, set to take effect at dawn.

The following day (dawn) Grand Duke's court
8

Escape plan fails as Theodore is reassigned

Boris persuades his officer friend Theodore Alexandroff to arrange a last-minute escape for Wang-Hu. However, Theodore is reassigned at short notice, and the plan cannot proceed.

the same day Military/official circles
9

Hai-Tang offers herself to the Grand Duke

Hai-Tang goes to the Grand Duke to plead for Wang-Hu's life and, in desperation, offers herself in his stead. The Grand Duke agrees and signs a reprieve to be sent to the Colonel.

Later that day Grand Duke's apartment
10

Boris confronts Hai-Tang's fate at the Grand Duke's apartment

Boris arrives at the Grand Duke's apartment seeking Hai-Tang. She pleads with the Grand Duke not to let Boris see her, but the Grand Duke asserts control and possesses Hai-Tang.

Later that night Grand Duke's apartment
11

Pardon mismanaged: Yvette and the Colonel

The Colonel lies in drunken sleep as his orderly hands the pardon to Yvette, who refuses to wake him to read it. The Colonel awakens too late to avert the execution, and Wang-Hu is saved by the reprieve.

Before dawn Colonel's residence
12

Hai-Tang returns home and dies in Boris's arms

Hai-Tang returns to her home with her honour shattered. Boris, unaware of her sacrifice, believes he saved her brother; she thanks him, declares her love, and dies after ingesting poison.

After the events Hai-Tang's home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:45

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Movies about forbidden love under oppressive power like The Flame of Love

Stories where love blooms in the shadow of corrupt and powerful forces.If you were captivated by the tragic romance in The Flame of Love, this collection is for you. Discover movies like The Flame of Love where characters fight for love against corrupt systems, political duty, or tyrannical figures, often resulting in stories of heavy emotional weight and sorrowful endings.

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These narratives typically feature lovers from different, often conflicting, social or political spheres. Their union is forbidden by a powerful, external force—a state, a family, a corrupt leader—that uses its authority to manipulate, coerce, and separate them. The plot revolves around their secret meetings, moral compromises, and ultimate sacrifice, driven by a central theme of love versus duty.

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Melodramas about duty and sacrifice like The Flame of Love

Emotional journeys where personal desire clashes with inescapable obligation.For viewers moved by the heavy themes of duty and sacrifice in The Flame of Love. Explore similar movies where characters face impossible choices between personal happiness and their obligations, resulting in deeply emotional, slow-burning stories with a melancholic and tragic atmosphere.

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The narrative pattern centers on a protagonist bound by a strict code of honor or duty. Their personal happiness, often in the form of love or freedom, comes into direct conflict with these obligations. The story unfolds as a steady, painful exploration of this internal rift, forcing the character to make a ultimate sacrifice that defines their tragic arc, cementing a sorrowful ending.

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The Flame of Love Summary

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The Flame of Love Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Flame of Love

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Flame of Love. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Flame of Love

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More About The Flame of Love

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