A father misunderstands the relationship between his daughter and the Chinese man, assuming he took advantage of her, during her convalescence.

A woman (possibly a prostitute) and a man speak and embrace; he pulls her close and touches her neck.

A man is referred to as having relationships with multiple "girls", one of which bears him a child.

A girl is warned by an poor mother surrounded by children never to marry, and by two well-dressed but exhausted-looking sex workers not to go into prostitution either.

A man intervenes between two quarreling sailors, advising them not to exchange blows and to treat one another as they would like to be treated; the sailors ignore him and a brief brawl begins, knocking the first character to the ground in the process. By modern standards the fight is hardly at all violent but the man is left troubled and slightly stunned.

A boxing match is shown.

The plot of the film revolves around a father taking his temper out on his helpless daughter. The narration cards describe her as bruised and battered.

A man verbally bullies his daughter as she pleads with him not to beat her, and demands she smile for him. He then forces her to watch as he eats his dinner, when she has none and must eat his scraps when he leaves.

Racially loaded language is used throughout in reference to Chinese characters -- some of it is simply dated, such as the main male character being called the Yellow Man, and some of it is racism on the part of characters (he is referred to as a Chink while visiting the West)

Numerous references to both British and Chinese cultures being uncivilized, violent, "heathen", etc. by characters from the opposing culture.

Abstract complaints about "drink" and "women".

Sailors are shown smoking cigarettes as they gamble.

An opium den is shown. Its patrons are shown smoking (from pipes and cigarettes) and seem drowsy. Throughout the film opium den and opium use are used as shorthand for despair and depravity.

Battling Burrows is clearly an alcoholic; he is shown drinking heavily in several scenes, forcing Lucy to bring him more alcohol, and his manager complains about his drinking.

Characters are shown drinking and smoking in a public house.

The portrayal of child abuse, poverty, and despair in this film is still quite vivid to modern viewers.