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The World of Suzie Wong (1960)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 2/15

Suzie
2/15: Hating Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing because I couldn't take Jennifer Jones' insistence that she's a Chinese or an Eurasian, The World of Suzie Wong more than makes up for it.

I won't be surprised if I learn William Holden had decided to have another go at it to wipe away the other film from his memory because he never got along with his co-star, failing to generate any ounce of chemistry.

One day, Nancy Kwan was taking ballet lessons and saw an advertisement for the leading role in The World of Suzie Wong. Happily, she was discovered by producer Ray Stark because her architect father was helping with the construction of the film studio. As an added bonus, something that's a rarity in cinema these days, she was born in Hong Kong and plays a character who's supposed to be from there.

Making her debut in a role that almost never happened due to no acting experience, Nancy Kwan can't be any more beautiful opposite William Holden, one of the most handsome actors of the time. They both have great chemistry, and the romance story is well-suited for them. Hence, their performances are excellent and believable.

It's the authentic Hong Kong cinematography that brings the most out of the film, making the setting an exotic locale and the poverty a reality for those who sell their beauty to make ends meet. The only slight downside is the running length when it should be at least fifteen minutes shorter.

All in all, The World of Suzie Wong corrects all the mistakes that were made in Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing and is the bona fide picture about interracial relationship between Asians and Americans.