The World of Suzie Wong
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Movie Reviews of The World of Suzie Wong
Movie Review: The World of Suzie Wong
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so glad that this movie is now on DVD. I had it on video, but it went bad. I have watched this movie over and over. Has a good ending, tooMovie Review: Great Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Great storie brings back memories as an American sailor in the 60's, with liberty ,Wanchai district Hong Kong.Movie Review: The World of Susie Wong
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the greatest love stories of all time.Movie Review: A Many Splendored Kwan
Summary: 4 Stars
Every once in a while, the evocative theme song will rattle my memories and compel me to rewatch this movie. I did late last nite, planning to watch only the opening credits for the music. But I got so caught up that I sat thru the entire thing.
Filmed in that boundary between the eras of censorship and openness, this film seems at times to walk on eggshells. While the prostitutes aren't glamourized as they are in, say, PRETTY WOMAN, they are childish and harmless (in fact, many of the Chinese come across as child-like). Plus, there are some melodramatic moments which seem to be a bid for sympathy (eg, Gwennie's letter and the mysterious reason behind Suzie's disappearances). This is only enhanced by the man's implausible virtuousness ('if he can feel that way about them, so should we').
Still, the film manages some degree of honesty. And the location shooting is alive with color and alienness, including some authentic Hong Kong and British accents (altho, the too-careful substitution of "Law-bet" for "Robert" by the Chinese actors comes across as fake).
Making the most of the story are the actors. Holden is well cast, as are the British and Chinese supporting players. But, I wonder how watchable this movie would have been without Nancy Kwan in the title role. While she clearly has limits in her acting range (she was a trained dancer, not actor), she was a force of nature as well as a sublime beauty. So much so that the very capable Sylvia Syms was doomed to supporting role from the start.
I guess Nancy is the reason i watch - and the music - and the photography - and the Hong Kong atmosphere - and the original bits of story - and -
Movie Review: Admittedly, Quite Good
Summary: 4 Stars
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