William Holden plays Robert, an artist whose plan is to go to Hong Kong for a year to paint portraits. He meets Susie Wong, a hostess girl played by Nancy Kwan. The movie is about their relationship, the ups and downs, the folly and the serious, the happiness and the frustration. Its a good film about a relationship between two cultures, and probably depicts a way of life at that time in Hong Kong, but it still doesn't feel wholly authentic somehow to me. Nancy Kwan does a good job, but her character sometimes annoys me. I guess the thing is you have to believe William Holden would be willing to have the patience to deal with her, especially given the fact that she has multiple "boyfriends". In the end, what we have is a well made film with good performances, but a film you finish kind of shaking your head to. Recommended, but don't expect a great film.
Review of The World of Suzie Wong
