Customer Reviews

China Doll

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CHINA DOLL is a finely-pitched wartime drama. Victor Mature plays Capt. Cliff Brandon, a disillusioned airman fighting against the Japanese. One morning he wakes up to discover he has purchased the services of a beautiful Chinese housekeeper, Shu-Jen (played by the celebrated Asian actress Li Li Hua in one of her rare American film appearances).

This is one of the better films produced by Frank Borzage around this period. Just like the similarly-themed "Sayonara" and "The World of Suzie Wong", CHINA DOLL explores the problems and prejudices involved in a cross-cultural relationship.

Victor Mature is fine playing Captain Brandon; but it's Li Li Hua who really owns this picture. She only made a handful of movies in America, but here she is truly magnificent. The cast also includes Ward Bond, Bob Mathias, Johnny Desmond and Elaine Devry.

It's great to see CHINA DOLL finally on DVD. The disc offers no extras but the anamorphic transfer looks a treat. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

This movie [now a DVD] was made in 1958 and it covers the pilots who flew over the Himalayan mountains from Burma-Tibet-China...this movie lacks genuine art/direction for the various tableaus look so flimsy throughout the entire film...every GI was spit-shined and plenty of booze for all hands [is there a war going on??]...Victor Mature is almost in every scene as a hard-bitten Commanding Officer but shows hardly any emotion even when annoyed...the cast around him is second string all the way except for Ward Bond...and as for singer Johnny Desmond, he is totally forgettable in the role of a pilot...on the bright side the Chinese actress LiLi Hua is perfect in her virginal/traditional role and very easy on the eyes, too...the story/line is good with a tearful ending for the only survivor to arrive in the USA...I think it is over/priced for the final product...this here movie could have been Vic Mature's sayonara to his long and wonderful film career......SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

I have not seen this movie since I was a young teenager and have been looking for it for so long. I was so excited when I found it on Amazon, I bought it straight away. On recieving, I cleared my afternoon, took the phone of the hook so not to be disurbed, sat down and enjoyed every minute of it. It's not Academy Award stuff, just a lovely romantic romp,something to get lost in for an hour and a half. Victor Mature may not have been one of the greatest actors, but I do enjoy anything he's in, there is just something about him and I thank god he graced the silver screen with his presence. Do yourself a favour, and just enjoy.

This is a movie that i've wanted for over 20 yrs. Amazon.com is my hero!!!! This movie made me cry when i watched it after i had seen it with my dad, who died in 1990. This is a movie that makes me feel closer to him.

This 1958 film directed by Frank Borzage was set in China during World War II. "Captain Cliff Brandon" (Victor Mature), drinking away his tour as a Hump Pilot, takes in "Shu-Jen" (played by the Hong Kong film star Lihua Li) as his housekeeper. A gruff and distant relationship becomes affectionate; love follows; the two marry and have a daughter; and then the Japanese attack.

The film can be appreciated from a number of angles.

-- Intercultural marriage. American moviegoers were offered "Sayonara" in 1957, "South Pacific" and "China Doll" in 1958, and "Bridge to the Sun" in 1961. The treatments now show their age, but the different plots and characters were addressing interracial marriage, perhaps in response to the small but growing number of GIs returned from Japan and Korea with wives. These films, even though they were about white-Asian marriages, should be recognized for denting interracial taboos, laying important psychological foundations for the Civil Rights movement a few years later.

-- War film. "China Doll" gave more visibility to the American aviators in the China-Burma-India theatre. Spliced into the film are great scenes, originally shot by combat cameramen, of troop carrier aircraft dropping supplies to the American and Chinese troops crossing Burma.

-- Aviation movie: There are some fine scenes of the C-47 and the equipment and uniforms used during the war. Inexplicably, the film editors who put together the other flying sequences must have had hangovers, and aviation buffs will no doubt wince at the several editing whoppers.

Finally, if you happen to watch the film with Chinese friends, be prepared to hear them laugh out loud at the Hollywood characters' attempts to speak lines in Chinese. Ward Bond had many virtues, but Mandarin dialog was not one. On the other hand, they will nod in appreciation when Bond, playing a missionary, "Father Cairns," says, speaking of 1943, "I know China's somewhat behind the times, but you give her time and she'll catch up."

-30-

The product arrived on time and it was a good condition. I enjoyed this movie very much by watching it at my
home and at the convenient time.

This is a great little movie, however I was disappointed that the copy I received was in Black & White. The format is advertised as being in color. The false advertising disturbs me as much as it not being in color. But if this doesn't bother you then you will probably enjoy it.

The dvd was exactly as described. Shipment was faster than I thought it would be. Very good transaction........thanks!

This movie is okay, not the greatest, but not the worst. I can't see why so much was made of Victor Mature, he's not really that great of an actor or that handsome.

I watched the China Doll movie DVD that I received from Amazon.com and thought it was very entertaining movie. The movie builds up the relationship between Capt. Brandon (Victor Mature) and Shu Jin (Li Li Hua) which leads to their marriage and having a little baby. It is sad at the end as both Shu Jin and Capt. Brandon are both killed, but it was nice to see the daughter 14 years later being met at Los Angeles Airport by Capt. Brandon's old crew. I would recommend this movie to anybody who likes movies that end up being very heartwarming.