dglink Samuel Bronston produced three big-budget films at his Madrid studio during the early 1960's. The three films, "El Cid," "The Fall of the Roman Empire," and "55 Days at Peking" all featured well known stars, had casts of thousands, memorable music scores, and budgets that provided production values that splashed across the wide screen. Unfortunately, all three productions received mixed critical reviews and modest box-office returns. "55 Days at Peking" is typical of the three; headed by a trio of big names, Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David Niven, and directed by Nicholas Ray, the lavish production is set in China during the Boxer Rebellion. The historical period and the politics make a fascinating backdrop to a cliché-ridden story.Heston plays an American Major and glides by on his toothy grin and profile, while Niven depends on his innate Britishness to carry him through the role of an English diplomat. Ava Gardner comes off best; her beauty and grace imbue what is an undemanding role as a Russian Baroness with a priceless necklace, a murky secret, and a past littered with men. Similar to "The Good Earth," "Dragon Seed," and other Hollywood films of the 1930's and 40's, the casting of Western actors as Chinese characters persisted. Flora Robson as the Dowager Empress, Leo Genn as General Jung-Lu, and Robert Helpmann as Prince Tuan, are made-up Chinese caricatures, with Robson faring best and Helpmann worst. John Ireland, Harry Andrews, Kurt Kaszner, and Paul Lukas fill out the rest of the noteworthy Western roles.Dong Kingman's colorful watercolors over the opening and closing credits are worthy of mention, as is Dimitri Tiomkin's Oscar-nominated score. Set against a turbulent era, the script by Philip Yordan and Bernard Gordon creaks much like the archaic casting of whites for Chinese; the story links one cliché with another whenever it strays from scenes that depict historical events into a lukewarm romance or sugary domestic drama. A few scenes that involve children have dialog that was possibly cribbed from Hallmark cards and is borderline cringe worthy. This large-scale ode to Western imperialism celebrates the endurance of a group of stubborn Westerners against the Chinese, who resented their intrusion and tried to force them out. The film is told from the perspective of the European diplomats trapped in Peking's foreign compound, who withstood 55 days of siege. Again like vintage films from Hollywood's Golden Age, coiffures and makeup are never mussed, clothing is never soiled, and death is always painless, bloodless, and peaceful. Nicholas Ray's direction of the action scenes is solid, although atmospheric scenes clutter the first third to extend the film's length and justify its importance. "55 Days at Peking" might have been a winner in the 1930's, but for contemporary viewers, politics have changed, and glorifying imperialism is no longer popular. The film is decent viewing for a peek at the past, an introduction to the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, and as an example of flamboyant, spectacular filmmaking of the early 1960's.

johnvictoroetomo the Chinese are described a barbarians, the film did make the Chinese (the Boxer who were in fact the nationalist movement) as bad guys. Keep in mind that foreign traders were making money selling opium to Chinese, and you can understand some of the animosity. It would be like Columbian drug cartels using force of arms to demand their right to sell cocaine in the U.S. But putting the political correctness aside, it is a very good film about an event that happened. You might also watch "Khartoum" about the battle between Muslim religious fanatics and British colonialism.Colonists are never popular, To glorify the intruding foreigners' actions in China in the wake of the Opium Wars during the late colonial period is a terrible thing to do. Doing so is along the same lines as glorifying the Nazis' actions in the invasion of Poland and in the Holocaust. To put things into perspective, for those who may not understand just how bad (morally) this movie is, imagine how Jewish people might feel, should a Hollywood movie be released that not only viewed the Holocaust from the Nazi perspective, but went so far as to glorify their actions. Looking at it from the other side's perspective is one thing (the German perspective of WWII and Holocaust, or in the case of this movie the foreigners' perspective). However, glorifying it is something else altogether - and this movie crossed the line in no small measure. To add insult to injury, the Chinese characters were portrayed by white actors, and even caricatured. This is stupid anti Chinese crap !Here's the setup: The foreign imperialists from Europe, America and Russia are the GOOD guys. The Boxers who are trying to defend their nation, their empress and their way of life from the onslaught of expansionists are the BAD guys. Barely anything about this movie is correct. History actually proved that the foreign forces actually suffered huge losses in close quarter combat with the Boxers, but you would never see a western film maker with the balls to acknowledge that, and so the Boxers are treated as just as savage and sloppy as Native Americans where depicted in films of this era.

REvans9092 The opening scenes in this movie were beautiful...illustrating the grandeur and wonderful tradition of China. The rest of the movie was a mess. Boring, slow-moving, poorly acted and directed are just a few words to describe this over-priced epic. Historically, this movie portrayed the foreign soldiers as the beleaguered group. Weren't the Chinese/Boxers fighting for their lives too? Charlton Heston was miscast as an American soldier...he is better in sci-fi and religious movies. Ava Gardner, looking bloated and bewildered, is also miscast. There was absolutely no chemistry between Heston and Gardner. When Ava Gardner died (none too soon) it was a relief. When Charlton Heston discovered she was dead, he didn't react. I thought they were in love. Silly me. The "Chinese" actors were Caucasians made-up to look like Chinese! Don't waste your time.

williwaw Samuel Bronston film impresario extraordinaire built a replica of Peking (aka as Beijing) on the outskirts of Madrid and filmed this exciting film. Allied Artists was a small boutique studio that produced such films as Love In The Afternoon, El Cid, Friendly Persuasion, Soldier In The Rain, and even an Elvis Presley movie Tickle Me and scored triumphs with Papillion and Cabaret. Directors such as John Huston,William Wyler, Bob Fosse, and Billy Wilder worked at AA as well as stars such Sophia Loren, Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen, Liza Minnelli and William Holden. Allied Artists studio had a big hit with 55 Days At Peking which recounts the Boxer Rebellion in China. Charlton Heston is stalwart and manly as always and Ava Gardner as the female lead is gorgeous to the camera.( Mr.Heston would remark in his book that only Ava Gardner could stay out all night and party and look more beautiful in the morning than ever) David Niven lends fine support. I highly recommend this exciting film.