The film is crowded with tense dramatic action and shows the most conscientious rehearsing and producing; indeed, the amount of work put into this film by those who made it is simply marvelous. There is, indeed, so much in it that it is difficult, if not impossible, to criticise it in detail. One is therefore perforce obliged to generalize and to rely upon the mental effect created by this strikingly beautiful piece of work. Possiblv from the standpoint of Chinese archaeology this picture of Chinese slavery may be open to similar objections. Be that as it may, we have no hesitation in handing out our highest praise to this film on the three principal grounds we always keep in view when writing of moving pictures. First of all, it is a grand piece of photography, it is a splendid dramatic production, magnificently staged, and then through all its many panorama-like effects it tells a good story in a clear, intelligible, and interesting manner; and these are the things that make for notable films of the week. Mr. Selig has achieved a very great success in this picture, and we believe that it will have an enthusiastic reception wherever it is shown. - The Moving Picture World, May 8, 1909
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