Genius. Madman. Lover.

Remembered now mostly for his magnificent Academy Award-nominated performance as the Japanese officer Colonel Saito in The Bridge on the River Kwai, Sessue Hayakawa first came to fame as one of the great stars of the silent cinema. He often played the dashing, romantic lead - a rarity for Asian actors in Hollywood, even today. Hayakawa became so popular and powerful that he established Haworth Pictures to take control of his own career. The Dragon Painter was the finest of the Haworth productions. Beautifully acted, gorgeously shot, and lovingly directed, the film is an absolute marvel.

Tatsu is a truly inspired artist living as a hermit in the mountain wilds of Japan. The local villagers believe he is insane, for Tatsu claims that a dragon has captured his princess fiancee. When he finds his true love, he loses his magnificent genius to paint.

Long considered lost, The Dragon Painter was rediscovered in France and brought to George Eastman House for restoration with the original tints. Milestone has commissioned a new ensemble score by the celebrated composer Mark Izu for this DVD presentation. The Dragon Painter survives today as a tribute to Hayakawa's great artistry and a gem of Asian-American cinema.