Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing
Directed by Henry King
Written by John Patrick from a novel by Han Suyin
1955/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Dr. Han Suyin: Our gorgeous lie did not even last the night. [/box]
This romantic weeper exceeded my fairly low expectations.
The setting is Hong Kong in the closing days of the Chinese Revolution. Dr. Han Suyin (Jennifer Jones) is a proud Eurasian. She is a widow and lives for her work as a resident at a local hospital. One of the board members convinces her to take a break and attend a cocktail party with him. There she catches the eye of Mark Elliot (William Holden), an American correspondent. He begins a dogged pursuit of her. She is almost immediately informed that he is married. For some reason, she believes that she is immune from love and accepts his invitations on dates. She is wrong.
The remainder of the movie tells their love story. Once Mark has broken her resistance, Suyin becomes completely devoted to him. Their affair has many ups and downs.
The story is no great shakes but I thought the movie was well-made with some beautiful views of Hong Kong. I can recommend it to folks who like this kind of thing.
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing won Academy Awards in the categories of Best Costume Design, Color; Best Music, Original Song (for the title song); and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. It was nominated for Best Picture; Best Actress; Best Cinematography, Color; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Sound, Recording.
Trailer
Whew. I was holding my breath. I’ve loved this film since adolescence. Clearly, shirtless Bill Holden had a profound effect one me as a youth. I love the footage of the Hong Kong that is no more. I did not know that Han Suyin wrote an actual autobiography. From the fountainhead that is Wikiipedia:
In her autobiography, My House Has Two Doors, she distanced herself from the film, saying that although the film was shown for many weeks at the Cathay Cinema in Singapore to packed audiences, she never went to see it, and that the film rights were sold to pay for an operation on her adopted daughter who was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
I actually thought this was one of Jennifer Jones better performances. And who could resist Holden on a beach? I can see how this movie would be kind of creepy for the protagonist to watch. With the wrong man and all that.
I was wondering about this movie, what with all the accolades it won, but it was not on the list so I missed it going through 55. I have a few days when I go to Australia in May, so maybe I should give it a chance. What is your verdict? Will it be worth it?
If you don’t have to buy it and have the time I would go for it. I liked it much more than I expected to and also more than many other reviewers did. If nothing else, it has some wonderful views of Hong Kong 60 years ago.