As noted by researcher Nathan Bradford, "At the time when 'Under The Yoke' was made, American policy towards the Philippines consisted of a promise to grant independence at some unspecified future time, when Filipinos would be 'ready', grants of a limited amount of autonomy, and a firm resolve to maintain US rule 'for the time being'. Well within living memory - in fact, just sixteen years before the film was made - the US used considerable force to put down those Filipinos impertinent enough to seek independence in the here and now. The film, made for the general American public, naturally reflects this narrative: beautiful Filipina damsel in distress threatened by the literally diabolic Filipino rebel; chivalrous American officer comes to the rescue; eventually, the revolt is crushed, American rule reinforced, Filipina and American officer get married, Happy End".Dr. Nathan Bradford, "1901-1935: How Americans and Filipinos regarded each other" in "Proceedings of the Second International Academic Conference on the Cultural Images of Colonial Domination", Cape Town, 1999
