tomsview There are layers to "The World of Suzie Wong". I find it engaging, surprisingly witty, and William Holden and Nancy Kwan have charisma to spare. However the way the film highlights how the Chinese were classed as social inferiors is wince-inducing. Especially so now that China is an emerging super power, and the fact that if you go to a hospital in my city, Sydney, your life is very likely to be saved by a Tan, a Chan or a Wong.But this film is a time capsule of the way things were. The film actually treats the Chinese rather respectfully. Even though the bar girls at the centre of the story are prostitutes, they are presented as worthwhile people and given a certain dignity although I can't imagine Elizabeth Taylor or Audrey Hepburn swapping places with Nancy Kwan when William Holden tears off her dress.As an artist, I enjoy the art aspect of the story. It's amusing watching William Holden pretending to paint Suzie in his bedroom studio. Bill is a neat painter. No dustcoat or apron for him, even though a spatter of Alizarin Crimson or Cerulean Blue would turn his trousers into painting pants immediately - I possess about 50 pairs of painting pants.But I have always admired the paintings he executes as the story unfolds. Bold, confidant works with powerful composition and superior draughtsmanship.Recently I discovered that they were done by Elizabeth Moore, a sixteen-year-old art student attending Kingston Art School in London. Sixteen! Amazing. Better known as Liz Moore, her first love was sculpture. She went on to create the Star Child for Kubrick's 2001 and then the 'nude' furniture for the Korova Milk Bar scene in "A Clockwork Orange". Finally she was involved in creating the costume for C3PO and the Stormtrooper helmets for "Star Wars".There are a couple of sites that have tributes to her and show other work including busts of The Beatles and Dame Sybil Thorndike. Another site features "The centrepiece painting from the film 'The World of Suzie Wong'", revealing thickly applied impasto. Photos of her show a vibrant blonde. Sadly that beauty and talent were crammed into too short a life. She was killed in a car crash in Holland in 1976 aged only 32.To those who know, "The World of Suzie Wong" is a legacy to that burgeoning talent and a gift that would seem to have been divinely inspired.

Amy Adler Robert (William Holden) was a success in the business world but found it unfulfilling. Thus, he made what could be called a major life change! Moving to Hong Kong so he can devote himself to his real goal, making it as an oil painter, he can only afford to rent digs in a cheap hotel. All too soon he discovers that the native call girls of the city meet their American or European beaux in the same place! One absolutely lovely gal is Suzie Wong (Nancy Kwan) who catches Robert's eye and visa versa. But, since Robert is comparatively poor at the moment and Suzie must make ends meet for herself and her family, the situation becomes rather sticky. A romance between the two is out, so a friendship develops. However, the more time they spend with one another, the more their hearts become entwined. Soon, Robert doesn't want Suzie to see any other men but him yet, if she doesn't, she will fall on hard times. Even then, when Robert does take Suzie out to a restaurant, the native wait staff and other "high society" Caucasians make fun of the two together, for they know what her profession is. Will love still triumph? The powers that be in sixties television must have gotten this film cheaply, for it was on quite a bit of the time. As such, my sisters and I really adored the movie, having seen Kwan in Flower Drum Song and admiring her beauty. Because the call girl angle is truly subtle, it took awhile for us to really understand the big picture. We saw it more as a romance between two people from different worlds, which it also is. As the two principals, Holden and Kwan make for a great couple while the scenery, costumes, and photography from Hong Kong are also a treat. Meanwhile, the script displays a touching tale of socially forbidden love while the direction sensitively deals with a rather difficult subject. Therefore, if you see the late, late show is featuring this flick, don't miss out. Even 50 years later, it is still a romantic and entertaining view.

crossbow0106 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.

ust2006 I remember watching this movie years ago on TV one night and absolutely being mesmerized by the lovely Nancy Kwan..When I noticed it was available on DVD I rented it one evening and was again totally captivated by Nancy..Back in the sixties, Nancy Kwan was the biggest Asian star around! She made her debut in this lavishly filmed production and what a debut! She exudes an incredible amount of sex appeal yet there is an innocence about her that is very charming in this film! I've read that this film was criticized for negative portrayals of asians....but if you just look within the context of the story, I think it's a powerful love story..which is what it was meant to be! The locales are fantastic..William Holden is wonderful and the supporting cast is full of colorful characters!