Since I returned from Hong Kong six weeks ago, I’ve gone on a 12-book binge (and finished my memoir revisions). So last night I decided to take a break from the written word and indulge in one of my favorite movies.
The World of Suzie Wong.
It’s been a decade since I’ve watched Suzie Wong, and I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to see it again. I own the DVD and was inspired to watch it last night because I’m going to lend it to a friend on Sunday.
I’ve also thought about Suzie this year because Penguin China recently came out with a reprint of the book. It’s interesting to hear from friends who have read the book but have never seen the film. So here’s a little review.
First, the Hong Kong footage from 1960 is priceless! The cinematographer captured most of the tourist spots in Hong Kong back then (which have remained popular to this day): the Star Ferry, Central, Aberdeen, and Tsim Sha Tsui. In 1960, police directed traffic from little pagodas in the middle of the street and refugees from the mainland lived in squatter huts along the mountainside. Both are prevalent in The World of Suzie Wong. If anything, this film gives the viewer an excellent feel for Hong Kong in the 1960s.
Back in 1997, around the Handover, it seemed like everyone in expat Hong Kong was reading the book. Some people criticized it for being sexist and racist, which I won’t argue, but like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I think Suzie Wong is a product of its time. (The book was written in 1958). Chinese male servants, no matter their age, were called boys; women were called girls. There was reference to hitting women as a sign of respect in Chinese culture, and how European employers wouldn’t hire an expat who was married to a Chinese man or woman.
The film had its moments of progressiveness, though. An English banker liked to boast about his fictitious sister who married a Chinese man to show that inter-cultural relationships do work out. Robert Lomax, the main character (besides, of course, Suzie herself) took Suzie out in public, to European-only restaurants. Still, he struggled with what he called “moral” issues, ie, settling down with a prostitute.
While the story of Suzie Wong is nothing new, the Hong Kong setting gives it character and is the reason it’s become a classic.
Finally, Nancy Kwan lights up the screen with her gorgeous wardrobe, her dancing (she trained in ballet), and her beauty. She was 21 when Suzie Wong was filmed and played an 18 or 19 year old. William Holden was 42 when the film was completed and played someone “pushing 40”. He seemed a lot older than that in the film, but I guess many people did back then.
Now that I’ve re-watched the film, I’m ready to re-read the book. As Suzie would say, “for goodness sake”, it’s about time.
William Holden was one of the handsomest actors ever to grace the silver screen. His alcoholism was his downfall. It aged him way before his time. At 42 in “The World of Suzie Wong”, he looked older.
I was 18 in 1960 and paid to see “The World of Suzie Wong” about 5 times.
Both Nancy Kwan and William Holden were terrific.
I would have, too! I bought the DVD, which will soon become obsolete. But to see Hong Kong then on the big screen had to have been such a treat!
The movie was wonderful. I had seen in the early sixties ansd recently on DVD. I cannot stop watching it.
The story is wonderful. The life she had to endure. The chemistry between William Holden and Nancy Kwan was terrific together. They picked the right person for the part. Hong Kong was wonderful. I was there in 1973.
I adore Nancy Kwan as a child and adult.
I am looking for the DVD with commentary on it. I don’t have Blu Ray machine to play it.
I agree. The film is a time capsule. Values today have changed, so we are looking into the historical past to see how far society has progressed on inter-racial relationships. If you are going to make a film in 1960, then showing certain prejudices is realistic, not racist or sexist. I like your statement about Suzie Wong: “Nancy Kwan lights up the screen with her gorgeous wardrobe, her dancing, and her beauty.” I wrote a short essay on The World of Suzie Wong called “Why Older Men and Younger Women Fall in Love.” If you would like to read it, here is the link: https://christopherjohnlindsay.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/suzie-wong/
Thanks so much for including a link to your post. It’s great! Every time I watch the film, I get more and more out of it. Little things I didn’t pick up before and even parts of the dialogue didn’t register the first few times i saw it. I should really re-read the book as that went into so much more detail about Robert’s life pre-Hong Kong and the ending was a different, too.
Hi Susan, Thanks for liking my post. Feel free to comment on my article and include a link back to your post.
I was in Hong Kong for a month in the Spring of 1963 courtesy of the US Navy. Our ship was the station ship so over a month I got to know Hong Kong and Kowloon very well…but mostly from a few sight seeing trip and a heck of a lot of bar time. Officers spent liberty time in Kowloon while enlisted headed for Wan Chai district of Hong Kong. The depiction of the bar life and prostitutes (better known as Bar Girls) in the movie is accurate for the Wan Chai area but a bit different in the Kowloon bars. Both had Bar Girls that you would by drinks for (it was actually tea) while the guys just got drunk. I can’t speak much for the habits of Wan Chai bar girls and I spent most of my time in Kowloon bars. Many of the girls were of mixed race (if you believe in race) European and Chinese….and were some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Some were prostitutes but were I charge of who they did or didn’t accept as clients. There was not set price….you just worked out a deal. Suzy Wong would have been a Wan Chai bar girl not a Kowloon one as in the movie the bars were frequented by enlisted sailors not officers. I was not uncommon for fights to break out in the bars as sailors from different ships competed for the bar girls….same old story. That never happened in Kowloon bars frequented by officers…as we knew if was a very bad idea to be returned to the ship by the Shore Patrol. One bar in Kowloon called the Waltzing Matilda Inn was to some extent a gay bar for English nationals. It was a good watering hole to visit before going to bars with bar girls…. there were none a the Waltzing Matilda. There was one madam that used that bar as sort of her office. She was a middle age Chinese woman about 5′ tall and 5′ wide and had the most amazing potty mouth. Her business card read: Hot Pants Molly Malone – 24 hour service and a phone number. I only met one of her girls named Lee……on a 1 to 10 scale she was a 12. So be assured if you watch the movie it’s very accurate as to what Hong Kong was like in 1960’s.
Hi~I bought this book in the HK Renaissance Hotel when I visited Hong Kong~ I just love it!Before I read it I thought that prostitutes are debased and desperate people who don’t give a damn for morals and would never earn my respect, however when I finished reading it I found that Suzie is actually a virgin, spiritually. We are all virgins until we meet the man we love. That’s what this book taught me. I’m really glad you like it and everything~
I haven’t even heard of this. Must get my hands on it! 🙂
I hope you like it! The story might be dated, but the clothes and Hong Kong scenery are classic in a good way!
I’ve not seen this, but I might just have to try and run it to ground (although I can’t imagine it being in any of the DVD shops I haunt here in Tianjin!) – sounds very interesting.
William Holden looked old in everything!
Let us know how the film holds up against the book.
Glad I’m not the only one who thought William Holden looked old! Let me know if you can find the film. Maybe it’s floating around Tao Bao? I’ll definitely report back on the book!