This was Frank Borzage's first film in ten years, he was one of the banned ones in the McCarthy witch-hunt days, and he was already in 64 when at last he was given the opportunity of a comeback, but his master's hand is ostensibly obvious in every scene of this film. The realism is total all the way through, the actors are perfectly organic and natural in Borzage's hands, the music is wonderful in its romantic touch to the story, the cinematography couldn't be better, and the sum of it is that this is a film to love. Borzage always worked with excellent scripts, this is no exception but rather proves the rule, it is a tragedy of course, but it is beautifully handled with exquisite care, and the psychology is perfect in convincing consistency. It was a particular joy to find Stuart Whitman, still very young, in this film, and he is given the responsibility of one of its most sensitive moments. Victor Mature is as surprisingly good as ever, but the prize goes of course to Li Hua Li as the poor Chinese girl who is sold from necessity by her father into a marriage, that is totally maladroit but proves a greater success anyway than anyone could have imagined. In the beginning of the film someone says, "a man never knows how happy he is until after death", which could be the motto of the film. Frank Borzage made two more films, but this one could be marked as his definite triumph as a director.
Review of China Doll
