Love is a Many-Splendored Thing
(B or 3/4 stars)
Director Henry King's 1955 romantic drama, 'Love is a Many-Splendored Thing' is the very kind of movie "they just don't make any more" -- a lush, lovely-looking, well-meaning, gorgeously-crafted escapist motion picture about a tearful, doomed love affair. Set in Hong Kong, the film tells the story of widowed Eurasian doctor, Han Suyin (Academy Award-nominated Jennifer Jones), who falls deeply in love with a married-but-separated American correspondent, Mark Elliot (stoic William Holden), during China's Civil War in the late 1940s. Among beach excursions & fancy dinners, the two always convene at their favorite hilltop meeting place.
Although they find happiness together, it is brief, as she is ostracized for their cross-cultural relationship by the greater Chinese community, as well as their own family & friends. And after losing her position at the local hospital, Suyin & her adopted daughter go to live with a friend while Mark goes on a dangerous assignment during the Korean War. They write letters to each other constantly. But fate would step-in to this story; as fate usually does.
Cinematographer Leon Shamroy's glossy & oft gauzy Cinemascope photography beautifully complements the flowery dialogue of John Patrick's (The Teahouse of the August Moon) script - which is based on the real-life Han Suyin's novel. The Hong Kong production designs are gorgeous; as are Charles Le Maire's Asian-influenced costumes -- Jennifer Jones cuts a striking figure in all of them.
Speaking of Jones, she's lovely, here. When isn't she? Though, there was criticism for hiring a Caucasian actress to play a Eurasian character. William Holden is as sturdy as ever; delivering some schlocky lines with his typical panache. And I'm sure audiences in '55 enjoyed the beach scenes where our lovers lay about in their bathing suits. Along with his film, Picnic, 1955 seemed to be the year of shirtless William Holden, haha. The love affair - however surfacey in the script - is depicted well. And many audience members swooned at the unabashed romance.
Now, cinephiles often wonder why this film - with a less-than-stellar screenplay - received a staggering 8 Academy Award nominations - and winning 3(!) - in a strong year when such classics as East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause & The Night of the Hunter were left off the list. Though the film is only 102 minutes long, it lumbers, at times. And those who DON'T fall for the romance will find our lovers' endless chatter & hand-holding nauseating. But this movie was a huge hit with audiences, and Academy-types followed suit. Alfred Newman's title song did for this film what 'My Heart Will Go On' did for 1997's Titanic; with instantly memorable strains & lyrics. Earned or not, true romantics succumb to this film over & over again.
Although they find happiness together, it is brief, as she is ostracized for their cross-cultural relationship by the greater Chinese community, as well as their own family & friends. And after losing her position at the local hospital, Suyin & her adopted daughter go to live with a friend while Mark goes on a dangerous assignment during the Korean War. They write letters to each other constantly. But fate would step-in to this story; as fate usually does.
Cinematographer Leon Shamroy's glossy & oft gauzy Cinemascope photography beautifully complements the flowery dialogue of John Patrick's (The Teahouse of the August Moon) script - which is based on the real-life Han Suyin's novel. The Hong Kong production designs are gorgeous; as are Charles Le Maire's Asian-influenced costumes -- Jennifer Jones cuts a striking figure in all of them.
Speaking of Jones, she's lovely, here. When isn't she? Though, there was criticism for hiring a Caucasian actress to play a Eurasian character. William Holden is as sturdy as ever; delivering some schlocky lines with his typical panache. And I'm sure audiences in '55 enjoyed the beach scenes where our lovers lay about in their bathing suits. Along with his film, Picnic, 1955 seemed to be the year of shirtless William Holden, haha. The love affair - however surfacey in the script - is depicted well. And many audience members swooned at the unabashed romance.
Now, cinephiles often wonder why this film - with a less-than-stellar screenplay - received a staggering 8 Academy Award nominations - and winning 3(!) - in a strong year when such classics as East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause & The Night of the Hunter were left off the list. Though the film is only 102 minutes long, it lumbers, at times. And those who DON'T fall for the romance will find our lovers' endless chatter & hand-holding nauseating. But this movie was a huge hit with audiences, and Academy-types followed suit. Alfred Newman's title song did for this film what 'My Heart Will Go On' did for 1997's Titanic; with instantly memorable strains & lyrics. Earned or not, true romantics succumb to this film over & over again.