The World of Suzie Wong (film)

Infobox Film
name = The World of Suzie Wong


image_size = 300px
caption = Suzie Wong in her cheongsam
director = Richard Quine
producer = Ray Stark
Hugh Perceval (assoc.)
writer = Richard Mason (novel)
Paul Osborn
John Patrick
narrator =
starring = William Holden
Nancy Kwan
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor =
released = November 10, 1960
runtime = 126 minutes
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0054483

"The World of Suzie Wong" is a 1960 romantic drama film directed by Richard Quine and starring William Holden and Nancy Kwan. It was adapted from a Broadway stage play of the same name which, in turn, was adapted from the novel by Richard Mason.

The film was a commercial success, despite predominantly negative reviews, and changed the career of Nancy Kwan overnight, transforming her into a Hollywood star and sex symbol.

Plot

American architect turned aspiring artist Robert Lomax (William Holden) comes to Hong Kong for a year, to see if he can make a living at his new profession. On board the Star Ferry going towards Hong Kong Island, he encounters "Mee Ling" (Nancy Kwan), a seemingly proper young woman of lofty social status. She mischievously tries to have him arrested for stealing her purse, but the misunderstanding is soon resolved, and they go their separate ways.

With limited financial resources, Robert goes looking for a cheap room in the notorious Wan Chai district. By chance, he sees Mee Ling leaving a run-down hotel in the district, the "Nam Kok". He rents a room, astounding the proprietor, Ah Tong (Andy Ho), by taking it for "a whole month", rather than the usual hour or two. Robert quickly discovers the true nature of the establishment. In the bar next door, he is bemused to find Mee Ling again, this time dressed in a slinky red dress and in the company of a sailor. This time, she calls herself Suzie Wong. She unabashedly admits she is a simple Wan Chai girl (prostitute).

The next day, Robert goes to see a banker to set up an account. The banker's secretary and daughter, Kay O'Neill (Sylvia Sims), is immediately attracted to the newcomer.

Robert gets Suzie to model for him. As they get better acquainted, Robert learns that Suzie had no choice but to take up her profession as a matter of survival. She begins falling in love with him; he tries to dissuade her, though he finds her very appealing. Meanwhile, he is also discreetly pursued by Kay. At her whites-only dinner party, Robert meets Ben Marlowe (Michael Wilding) and his wife; Robert recognizes him as one of Suzie's clients.

Later, Ben offers to make Suzie his mistress; she accepts in order to make Robert jealous. When Ben reconciles with his wife, he asks Robert to break the news to Suzie. She is so hurt by the rejection that Robert cannot stand it; he finally admits that he loves her.

At first, they are very happy, but there are strains to their relationship. One day, Robert follows Suzie on one of her periodic disappearances. He finds her visiting her baby son; she was fearful of his reaction, but he accepts the child. Then, he runs out of money as his paintings do not sell at first. Both Kay and Suzie offer to give him money, but his pride will not let him accept. When Robert learns that Suzie had paid his rent, in a fit of anger, he drives her away.

He realizes his mistake and goes searching for her. When he finally finds her, he learns that her baby has died in the annual flooding. In the end, Robert and Suzie commit themselves to each other.

Cast

*William Holden as Robert Lomax
*Nancy Kwan as Suzie Wong / "Mee Ling"
*Sylvia Sims as Kay O'Neill
*Michael Wilding as Ben Marlowe
*Jacqui Chan as Gwennie Lee, Suzie's close friend and co-worker
*Laurence Naismith as O'Neill, Kay's father
*Yvonne Shima as Minnie Ho, another Wan Chai girl
*Andy Ho as Ah Tong

Production

The film was shot on location in Hong Kong. The hotel (the "Nam Kok") was a building on Hollywood Road.

Actress France Nuyen was originally cast in the role of Suzie Wong (a role she had played on Broadway opposite William Shatner), and was filmed in the Hong Kong location shots with William Holden. For Holden, who enjoyed exotic travel in his personal life, the Hong Kong location shooting was a major inducement for him to do the film.

When London set shooting began, however, the production ran into difficulties. Nuyen was involved with actor Marlon Brando. Gossip that Brando was seeing actress Barbara Luna caused Nuyen to begin over-eating and she could no longer fit into her costumes. Consequently, she was replaced by Nancy Kwan (supposedly Holden's original first choice for the role). [DVD commentary to "Flower Drum Song"] Kwan had appeared in the U.S. road company production of the play. At the same time, Ray Stark fired director Jean Negulesco and replaced him with Richard Quine.

Following completion of the London shooting, Hong Kong location shooting had to be immediately redone with Nancy Kwan so as to avoid the oncoming monsoon season. [Bob Thomas, "Golden Boy: The Untold Story of William Holden", pp.135-137]

Notes

ee also

* List of movies set in Hong Kong
* Prostitution in Hong Kong

External links

*imdb title|id=0054483|title=The World of Suzie Wong