Customer Reviews

The World of Suzie Wong

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'The World Of Suzie Wong' the romanticized story of a Hong Kong prostitute and an American artist is for some, a simplistic racist view of Chinese, for others, a guilty pleasure. Yes, it is both of those things but it is even more. It is a fine and tender love story of two people from very different worlds who overcome pride and prejudice and embark upon a true human experience. Forty four years after its release this film along with 'Flower Drum Song' are being re-evaluated and embraced by the Chinese American community. Why? Because beneath the surface of each film they share the common job of telling the story of their time and place with honesty and true humanity and in the case of Suzie Wong, the story is not such a happy one.
At first we are presented in `Suzie Wong' a stereotypical view of happy little hookers in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong. But as the story unfolds the veneer of this portrait cracks open to reveal through Suzie just how desperate the lives of these women are. In a city of over three million crammed onto the island city it is a case of do what you must to survive. In Suzie's case she must compartmentalize her feeling into body, love, and soul and thus protect herself by pretending that she is the daughter of a rich merchant rather than a Wan Chai bargirl. Though her relationship with Robert they both learn the meaning and cost of love in a world of narrow view and prejudice.
The film is very adult and honest in dealing with the subject of the flesh trade and racism in 1960 must have been a bit shocking on several levels. This film must be credited with opening the door to telling more honest stories of Asian's with Asian actors in the major roles. After all, not too many years before we had Jennifer Jones playing a Eurasian in 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing'. She did a fine job, but still she was miscast. Here we have Nancy Kwan creating a memorable character, as it should be, by someone of Asian descent.
Nancy Kwan is luminous in the role of Suzie. This was a star making turn for her and led to other good roles over the years. She is sexy, with a street-smart veneer that covers her open and trusting heart. She rises to the many emotional challenges of Suzie and succeeds in carrying the viewer through the film as only an accomplished actress can. The camera falls in love with her, as does the reluctant Robert.
William Holden is perfectly cast as the "pushing forty" American who has come to Hong Kong to pursue his dream of being an artist. He is a pro who give the role just the feeling of wonder and discovery it needs blended with a certain worldliness that it requires. Together, Kwan and Holden are an intoxicatingly romantic couple that share a chemistry on screen most films of this genre aspire to but few achieve.
The supporting cast is filled out by standouts such as Jacqui Chan as Gwennie Lee, Andy Ho as Ah Tong, Michael Wilding as Ben Marlow and Sylvia Simms as Suzie's rival, Kay O'Neill.
Geoffrey Unsworth also known for his work on 'Becket', '2001 A Space Odyssey' and 'Cabaret' stunningly photographed Hong Kong for the film. His use of light and color is unsurpassed in capturing the long gone look of the city in 1960. The art direction of John Box is superb. He is best known for his work with David Lean on 'Doctor Zhivago' and 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
It is all expertly helmed by director Richard Quine who is also responsible for 'Bell, Book, and Candle', 'Strangers When We Meet' and the delightful 'How To Murder Your Wife'.
Of special note are the stunningly beautiful paintings of Miss Kwan by artist Liz Moore. They are indeed wonderful and one wishes there had been an addition to the DVD of slides of this artist's painting for the film.
'The World of Suzie Wong' is a film that holds both an important place in film history and the hearts film buffs and romantics around the globe. So on that rainy Saturday afternoon when you need a little romance, drama and travel to a far off land pop in this new DVD of 'Suzie Wong' and be carried away.

Nancy Kwan is very beautiful and talented. William Holden shows a side of himself not usually seen, that is, betwixed, off-guard, yet enchanted by Ms. Kwans character. Her character teaches him what Chinese people hold valued although the movie is seen through a Westerner's eyes. The scenery is extremely captivating, as Hong Kong surely would not look this way again, so the moment in time is a treasure in itself. I watched this movie about 10 times over a month period because I loved the romantic story, the boy meets girl, loses girl formula, the snooty characters and of course William Holden for taking on such an unusual story.

I have lost count of the number of times I have seen this movie - thanks to video. I have spent much time in Hong Kong and among the Chinese. I have read the book, whose author comes from the same part of England as I. Maybe this helps for me to see the incidents, the characters and the venue much as he did. In the book, Robert, is an Englishman. If, for Hollywood, the actor had to be an American, then Holden would have been my choice. Both he and Kwan are well typecast. When judging Holden, remember, in the original story, he is a reserved Englishman. It is a love story centred on a plot, which always appeals in any era or place. But in 1960's Hong Kong it is well suited. See it, and enjoy the charm of an age and a location about to change forever. Although much of the story is set in a hotel of, somewhat, low repute and the heroine is a prostitute, there is not one 'bad' four letter word, nor an explicit bedroom scene - they just weren't needed to support this wonderfully romantic story. Incidentally, I am the Englishman referred to by the American (Eurasian) reviewer (9th April). As to her wishes - 'who knows, for goodness sake'? (As Suzie might say)

This is one of many East meets West love stories of the period, and was the second for William Holden in Hong Kong (he'd previously starred in "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" with Jennifer Jones). In this movie, not only is the relationship East meets West, it is also May/December as Holden is much older than Nancy Kwan (her first film, according to Internet Movie Database). As it happens, Holden is a fine enough actor to make the romance fairly believable, though credulity is strained as there is another young woman chasing his affections, played by Sylvia Syms. Holden is less believable in the few action scenes. The basic plot is that William Holden is a restless American who leaves the rat race to become a painter in Hong Kong (or was he already a painter? I forget). He rents a room (complete with a great view terrace), in a Hong Kong brothel, and while searching for models, his attention is naturally drawn by the stunning Nancy Kwan, a local prostitute. Matters are complicated when he hangs around with the local British society, where his work draws the impassioned attention of blonde beauty Sylvia Syms, who happens to have clout in the art world and who instantly decides to champion his work. Of course, she finds the artist far more interesting than his art, and therein hangs a tale. What carries this movie is the radiant beauty of the two leading ladies -- both Nancy Kwan and Sylvia Syms are luminous. The tension between the two women is very convincing as they vie against each other for Holden's love. Indeed, one wishes it could have led to a catfight. Alas, this was not to be, but catfight fans will be pleased to know that Kwan does have a brief brawl with another Chinese prostitute. The Hong Kong background is lush and beautiful, and used to great effect. The story also has enough complexities and ethical challenges to sustain interest. Unfortunately, it is all too typical of the roles given to Asian actresses -- Nancy Kwan plays a prostitute with the proverbial heart of gold, and there is also the paternalistic condescencion taken for granted in those days, with Holden portrayed as the answer man and Nancy Kwan as the emotional woman he must get in line. Thus, the movie has a fairly large list of flaws. Despite this, it is a well-crafted entertainment with many good points to balance its defecits. No, there's nothing especially original here, but this type of story has been successful many times, as it was more recently with "Pretty Woman." Definitely worth watching.

From 1960, William Holden enters "The World Of Suzie Wong", and his world is forever changed. After 45 years, this film still has me smiling and sighing with each view.

After just a brief but emotional encounter on a Hong Kong ferry boat, Suzie Wong, played endearingly by Nancy Kwan, has left American traveler Robert Lomax(Holden), quite taken with her beauty and unique charms. He believes her to be the proper but spirited daughter of a rich man, and before he can get to know her she disappears off into the crowded streets. Robert, taking a year off from his career in architecture, wants to persue his love of painting. On a limited budget, he takes a room in a not so upscale part of town, and finds himself a resident of a hotel that caters to the servicemen and prostitutes that frequent the bar next door.

To his surprise (and perhaps delight), he discovers one of the working girls is none other then Suzie Wong. He hires her as his model, and she proceeds to turn his world upside down. What follows is a dramatic, but sweet and poignant story of culture clash, and wonderful romance, as Robert tries to reconcile his growing fondness for Suzie, with the morals and bigotry of the world he comes from.

Like Lomax, you will fall in love with the irresistible Suzie, and breathtaking Hong Kong. Suzie's pals Gwennie Lee(Jacqui Chan), Minnie Ho(Yvonne Shima), and Wednesday Lu(Lier Hwang), will also delight you and steal your heart with their own unique charms.

For a little over 2 hours you will be taken into "The World of Suzie Wong", and you may not want to come back! Well worth the price for this purchase(VHS only availbale from outside sellers at this time), as it will provide you with enjoyment even after repeated viewings. I highly recommend this film for the romantic of any gender... Forget the popcorn..enjoy with some nice tea and rice cakes...Laurie

also recommended:
Best Picture Collection - Epic Dramas (Casablanca/Gone With the Wind/Ben-Hur)

Diamonds

Simply the most accurate depiction of life in Hong Kong of the time that wasn't filmed on a Hollywood back lot. Real Hong Kong Chinese actors not the usual cadre of American actors with bad make-up and accents. And to top it off a killer story with Bill Holden and Nancy Kwan. The story respects the audience and respects the Chinese people and their customs, something other movies of that(and our) time do not even try to do. Overall a must see for any person interested in great romance and Chinese culture.

Today there are many "chick flicks," but The World of Suzie Wong is a "romance for guys."

There are two parallel themes in this film: 1) the "Pygmalion" theme, and 2) the enchantment of the East. The Pygmalion theme (which includes Cinderella, My Fair Lady, and Pretty Woman) was old when George Bernard Shaw's play by this name 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.

Theme number two, the enchantment of the East, is magic stuff for those so smitten, which includes your humble correspondent. 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. Lomax must be a man of Quixotic romantic notions or he would not be trying this alternative life style of professional painting. 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?

Some object to this love theme carrying racist overtones, but in my view the reverse is true. The essence of the message is an absence of racism. 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 Suzie 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.

It's also an interesting commentary on the film makers of this approximate vintage that when they wanted to tell the story of interracial romance they often seemed to think they had to attenuate the effect. Both Nancy Kwan and France Nguyen (in South Pacific), for example, were of mixed parentage, (but the female Asian love interests in The Sand Pebbles and Sayonara were not). And Jennifer Jones, while an Academy Award winning best actress, is from Tulsa, Oklahoma; Love Is A Many Splendored Thing really needed a genuine "Eurasian." As an added note, in Sayonara, Ricardo Montalban played the role of a Japanese man -- go figure.

Anyway, 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 (although William Shatner [believe it or not] played the stage role). This role belongs to Bill Holden.

This movie makes me proud to be Eurasian. Nancy Kwan is classically beautiful and 'The World of Suzy Wong' illustrates this at every opporunity. William Holden's sensitivity and mature demeanour make him a wonderful leading man. If you wish to be transported to a truly romantic era, then this is certainly the movie to see. I also recommend reading the novel on which the movie was based by Richard Mason. One cannot help but love it too.

William Holden plays Robert Lomax, an American architect who takes a year off from work to pursue his dream of making it as an artist. He moves to Hong Kong and sets up house in a cheap hotel plagued with prostitutes. He uses one, Suzie Wong (played by Eurasian actress Nancy Kwong), as a model for his paintings and she soon falls in love with him. To complicate matters, the daughter of a prominent HK-based British banker also falls for Lomax, and he ultimately must decide between Wong, to whom he seems more attracted but whose occupational background he finds troubling, and the more socially prominent Englishwoman.

Given that I knew what the basic story was about, I had low expectations for this film. I just found it hard to imagine a character played by William Holden getting serious with a hooker; however, the film evolves in a way that makes it all believable. The viewer will sympathize with Suzie Wong's plight and will feel for both Lomax and Wong as they try to overcome the obstacles in their relationship.

Nancy Kwan (whose father was Chinese and whose mother was a British fashion model) was a sex symbol in the 1960s and, when you see her in this film, it is easy to understand why.

A while back, I flew to Hong Kong in order to write about it. As one does, I visited Victoria Peak, the bright lights of Nathan Road, and the beautiful and sparsely inhabited New Territories. And of course, I visited Wan Chai, albeit mainly to see if the World of Suzie Wong still existed. Whether it does or not is difficult to say.

Before I left - in my second Amazon misclick - I ordered the DVD of this story and not the novel. I had heard that the film was terrible, but I actually enjoyed it. In Hong Kong, I picked up the novel and, admittedly, enjoyed that, too. Although not exactly Emily Bronte, The World of Suzie Wong is entertaining in a pulp-fiction-slash-soap-opera sort of way. Chance encounters, preposterous coincidences, embroidered dialogue, and bad similes are all part and parcel of the Suzie saga, but it makes for light entertainment and a bit of escapism. Also, there are some very good desriptions of what Hong Kong was like in those days (the 1950s) - swarming with sailors, hookers, refugees from the mainland, and indifferent and corrupt officials. In the film-version, you get to see what Hong Kong looked like in the 1960s, as it was filmed on site. In fact, this movie is the first real look that Westerners got of the now-booming metropolis. Don't expect fireworks with either the novel or the DVD, but do expect to be whisked away to a bygone era for a pleasant little while.

Troy Parfitt, author