The World of Suzie Wong

Today there are many "chick flicks." The World of Suzie Wong is the quintessential "romance for guys." There are two parallel themes in this film: 1) the "Pygmalion" theme, which was old when George Bernard Shaw's play first appeared in 1913. Pygmalion, in classical legend, was the king of Cyprus who fell in love with his own sculpture. Hence the theme of beginning with a raw material (in this case a woman of no great position or education) and to some degree transforming her into she whom you might adore. Some may object to this theme carrying racist overtones, but in my view the reverse is true. The very fact that in this type of romantic union the protagonists are of unequal social position means that the man is attracted to the woman because of her human qualities, not because of any advantage she can provide to him in terms of social status or wealth. In fact, a man who loves such a woman is often looked down upon socially, which is present in this story. The object of Robert Lomax's love is Susie Wong for who she is as a woman and how she makes him feel, and he gladly, even cynically disregards the disparagements of those who do not approve. 2) Theme number two is the enchantment of the East. This is magic stuff for those so smitten, and once smitten, these is no cure. In this way, this wonderful story (novel and film) is understated. It is barely believable that Lomax's attraction to Suzie would start from nothing and grow so slowly to compelling strength. This mixture of desire and fascination is more likely to stormily seize a man's heart, but "Robert meets Suzie-falls crazy in love-marries Suzie" would make for a ten-minute film, and that just wouldn't do, would it? It's also an interesting commentary on the film makers of the fifties that when they wanted to tell the story of interracial romance they had to attenuate the effect. Both Nancy Kwan and France Nguyen (in South Pacific) were of mixed parentage. When a guy with Quixotic romantic notions (which Lomax clearly has, or he would not be in Hong Kong trying to paint professionally) beholds the lovlieness of a Nancy Kwan in those subtle, but oh, so sexy silk dresses (cheongsam in Cantonese, Qipao [shee pow] in Mandarin), he sees a vision of feminine loveliness he thought could only exist in the Platonic realm of the form. He sees perfection. He is enchanted. There is no cure save to have this woman for his own or death. This enchantment your humble correspondent knows first-hand, and therefore connects deeply with Robert and Suzie. The World of Suzie Wong is so very romantic, and the themes explored here are enduring. I love the novel -- I love the film. I can't imagine anyone but William Holden playing Lomax. This role belongs to he.

For the era of its production this movie dared to challenge what was unacceptable in modern America. How could a successful American give up his whole life for the love of a Hong Kong prostitute. The World of Suzie Wong shows what happend to a basic "good girl" in Hong Kong, The strict, unyielding, traditional attitude of the British subject, An a American sense of right that a person is allowed to fall in love with anyone of their choosing. William Holden, Nancy Kwan showed a joint charisma as they fought tradition to fall in love. Both gave class A performances. The supporting actors and actresses did super as the viewer was lost inside their characters. I highly recommend this movie. It even give a view of Imperial Hong Kong BEFORE the changeover to China.

I read some of the comments with dismay. This is an amazing movie in many respects. It is not meant to be steamy. The point is to show the straightforward and powerful interplay and juxtaposition of love, morality, situational ethics and plain old-fashioned fate and tragedy. There are amazing characters in this movie, acting that is rarely equaled by today's performers. An innocence of story and character and setting is captured here that is worthy of the label "Classic." Holden is only "strolling" through this roll because it is that kind of roll. He is that kind of actor. Jimmy Stewart with a bit more grit. Nancy Kwan is inspired and a truly lovely and under appreciated classic beauty. Her performance brings across a range of emotion that is rarely seen- perhaps lately in some of the more popular Chinese and Indian Films. Iif this movie doesn't touch your heart and stir your mind to question its priorities, then you may not have one!

What an excellent movie. Not only is the script well done, and the acting superb, but the scenery is gorgeous even while showing the wretched underbelly of Hong Kong in the '60s. There had been a bunch of movies set in Hong Kong, when The World of Suzie Wong came out. But I think what set this movie apart was that instead of just showing that glitz & glamor, it showed the slums that the Chinese lived in. the struggles of the underclass. Their beliefs & dreams. Although the romance was average, and obvious where it was going, Richard Quine does an excellent job focusing on the other aspects of the movie. & Nancy Qwan is just stunning. She lights up every scene that she is in. She also plays her character very well. I highly recommend this movie

A romance between an American artist and a Chinese prostitute, this show can't be truly appreciated by those unfamaliar with the Chinese cultures/way. Some find the behaviour of Suzie Wong in this show appalling in some scenes, the part where she seems proud that Robert hit her. In those day in the Chinese culture it is portrayed as a sign that the man cares about you, not so with American culture. I love the part where she gave her hard earned money to Robert because his paintings were not making money, his reaction proofed that he did love he, wanting to provide and not be provided for. I gave this show a 9/10 because the only fault i can find with it is the scene where she finds her son dead, i felt that she didn't act like a mother would when she found her son dead. Not enough emotion, William Holden did a fanstastic job as the artist. Charming yet dependable. Overall one of my favourites to date.

This movie is quite romantic in the way it portrays the (Asian American) female. She's a prostitute who needs a man to teach her how to do everything. At one point in the film she and her girlfriends boast about how nice it is to have a man at home to beat you up. (It shows how much they love you) Not my idea of a sweeping romantic saga.

When William Holden and Jennifer Jones scored well in Love Is A Many Splendored Thing about an interracial romance set in Hong Kong on a loan out to 20th Century Fox, the folks at Holden's home studio at Paramount figured that the long running Broadway play, The World of Suzie Wong was a natural for Bill. They bought the property and took a one scene play in the cheap Hong Kong hotel room into big production. So big it kind of dwarfs the tender love story. But the worst part of Suzie Wong is that Bill Holden is so terribly miscast. The then 43 year old Holden is playing a part that on Broadway was done by William Shatner then age 28. The part of the architect who wants to become an artist and goes to Hong Kong to discover his talent would have been better for someone like Paul Newman or Marlon Brando or even Montgomery Clift. However newcomer Nancy Kwan who is from Hong Kong scored well in the title character that France Nuyen did on Broadway. Back in the day Kwan and Nuyen seemed to do just about every young beautiful oriental woman role that came to the screen. Also well cast was Sylvia Sims who's carrying a torch for Holden as the banker's daughter trying to help him in art circles and Michael Wilding the two timing cad who enjoys Kwan's favors as a prostitute and would like to make the arrangement semi-permanent. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing made a lot more sense because Holden was romancing a professional woman his own age in Jennifer Jones. He comes off more a like a dirty old man in this film. Jen and Bill have their high windy hill in that other film and in The World of Suzie Wong there's another hill where Suzie lives part time and which sustains a mudslide after the monsoon. Let's just say it's not something to write a romantic hit song about. The World of Suzie Wong does have some nice location photography of Cold War Hong Kong. The plot has some similarities to Some Came Running, but it isn't half as good. Come to think of it, I thought Frank Sinatra was miscast as the lead in that film as well.

Handsome screen-adaptation of Paul Osborn's hit 1958 play (via Richard Mason's 1957 novel) can't overcome its stagy roots, nor the fake-exotic plushness which prevents the scenario from blooming (glossy doesn't equal exotic). Story about a Hong Kong prostitute should not have been this tame, even if Nancy Kwan shimmers in the titular role. Strolling through as an American artist who woos the illicit Suzie Wong, William Holden gives one of his weaker performances; he clearly isn't into this role and one can hardly blame him, the story being so clichéd and the set-up so concocted. Soap fans will be the movie's best audience, and George Duning has composed an attractive score. ** from ****

"The World of Suzie Wong" is the inspiring tale of a Hong Kong prostitute and her American sugar daddy. As the movie that effectively introduced western audiences to the concept of a "China doll," this movie would be truly offensive if it weren't for the farcical "Chinese" accent of the lovely Ms. Nancy Kwan and the strange backdrop of fake Hong Kong streets. Filmed at the height of the cold war, the movie manages to convey plenty of ideological punch - it scores extra-bonus points for scaring the audience with a mention of the threat from "RED CHINA." To those familiar with Chinese culture, the movie has the flavor of an episode of Mr. Magoo that was shot deadpan. William Holden bumbles through exotic locales, encounters strange situations, and comes to ridiculous conclusions based only most tangentially on reality.

I remember watching this movie years ago on TV one night and absolutely being mesmerized by the lovely Nancy Kwan..When I noticed it was available on DVD I rented it one evening and was again totally captivated by Nancy..Back in the sixties, Nancy Kwan was the biggest Asian star around! She made her debut in this lavishly filmed production and what a debut! She exudes an incredible amount of sex appeal yet there is an innocence about her that is very charming in this film! I've read that this film was criticized for negative portrayals of asians....but if you just look within the context of the story, I think it's a powerful love story..which is what it was meant to be! The locales are fantastic..William Holden is wonderful and the supporting cast is full of colorful characters!