The World of Suzie Wong [DVD]

'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.

She wants to be Robert's permanent girlfriend. She has a cute butt, for goodness sakes.

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.

Video quality is excellent considering that the movie was made in 1960.

È un film drammatico, ben recitato con una bella trama. Oggi è difficile che vengano prodotti così belli.

Habe lange mit dem Kauf gewartet, ob nicht doch eine deutsche Synchronfassung auf den Markt kommt. Nachdem meine Frau schon von der Romanvorlage sehr angetan war, habe ich den Film nun doch mit der englischen Orginalfassung erworben, um meine Frau damit zu überraschen. Ich kannte den Film bereits von früher aus dem Fernsehen. Ihn jetzt in einer guten Bluray Qualität auf einem großen Flatscreen zu sehen, ist nochmal was ganz anderes. Überhaupt hat mir die Geschichte und vor allem Hongkong mit den schönen Aussenaufnahme schon immer gut gefallen und bietet ein Flair, den heutige Filme dieses Genres nur schwer erreichen.

香港島の上環から湾仔（ワンチャイ）にかけての、水商売の香港娘（ナンシー・クワン）と、アメリカ人画家（ウィリアム・ホールデン）とが織りなす、恋愛模様。この作品で、欧米人に香港のイメージが焼き付いたそうです！　リチャード・メイソンのベストセラーの映画化。ブロード・ウェイの舞台でも上演。　共演は、ローレンス・ネイスミス、マイケル・ワイルディング、シルヴィア・シムズ（「アレキサンドリアで冷たいビールを」）などイギリス人俳優が脇を固め、素晴らしい香港の景色（二人がアバディーンの水上生活者のサンパン舟で湾内を快走するシーンは最高！）や、昔の猥雑な香港の下町風情が良いです。ハイソな雰囲気の「慕情」の時より、この「スージー・ウォンの世界」の方がウィリアム・ホールデン楽し気に演技してます。スコットランド人と中国人のハーフのエキゾチックな美人ナンシー・クワンが、作品自体を傑作にする素晴らしい演技（絵のモデル兼恋人）。ナンシー・クワンはロンドンのロイヤル・バレー団に所属し、バレー教師の資格も得ていたので、ホテルの酒場での水兵とのダンス（チャチャチャ）やホールデンとのダンス（クラシック）シーンは素晴らしい。　香港は、このところ厳しい雰囲気ですが、この作品で描かれる古き良き香港。イギリス人やアメリカ人が、香港人と仲良く闊歩していた楽しい香港が堪能できます。さらに助演のアンディー・ホー（ウィリアム・ホールデンが滞在し、ナンシー・クワン達がたむろする、ナム・コック・ホテルのフロント）や、酒場のイヴォンヌ・シマ、ジャッキー・チャンも、香港人風に良い味出してます。日本語字幕無いけど、結構楽しめる良いDVDです。お勧めします。

Everything was good