The port city of Bristol, England, in the 1800s is home to Java Head, a sailing ship line company. The owner has two sons. One, a handsome seafarer, is in love with a local girl, but cannot marry her due to a long-running feud between their fathers. After a lengthy voyage, he returns with a very exotic, noble Chinese wife, which scandalizes the conservative town. His other son, a "landlubber", seeks to convert to steamships, to the disgust of his father. Even worse, he is secretly dealing in contraband.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Elizabeth AllanNettie Vollar | Nettie Vollar |
 Anna May WongPrincess Taou Yuen | Princess Taou Yuen |
 John LoderGerrit Ammidon | Gerrit Ammidon |
 Edmund GwennJeremy Ammidon | Jeremy Ammidon |
 Ralph RichardsonWilliam Ammidon | William Ammidon |
 Herbert LomasBarzil Dunsack | Barzil Dunsack |
 George CurzonEdward Dunsack | Edward Dunsack |
| JJohn MarrinerJohn Stone | John Stone |
 Grey BlakeRoger Brevard (as Gray Blake) | Roger Brevard (as Gray Blake) |
 Roy EmertonBroadrick | Broadrick |
| AAmy Brandon ThomasRhoda Ammidon | Rhoda Ammidon |
 Frances CarsonKate Vollar | Kate Vollar |