The World of Suzie Wong (1960)
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43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(1,050 ratings)
William Holden stars as an American artist who becomes involved with the sordid underworld of prostitution in Hong Kong in The World of Suzie Wong, based on Paul Osborn's Broadway adaptation of the novel by Richard Mason. Holden is American architect Robert Lomax, who travels to Hong Kong to… More William Holden stars as an American artist who becomes involved with the sordid underworld of prostitution in Hong Kong in The World of Suzie Wong, based on Paul Osborn's Broadway adaptation of the novel by Richard Mason. Holden is American architect Robert Lomax, who travels to Hong Kong to paint. He meets Suzie Wong (Nancy Kwan), an attractive woman who passes herself off as a high-society heiress. It is with great surprise that Robert spots her in a Hong Kong dive entertaining a bunch of sailors. It turns out that Suzie is a prostitute and Robert has observed her plying her trade. Suzie proposes that Robert put her up as a kept woman, but Robert will hear nothing of it, preferring to use her as a model for his paintings instead. Suzie then becomes involved with playboy Ben Marlowe (Michael Wilding), while Robert meets Kay O'Neill (Sylvia Syms), a British banker's daughter, who helps Robert to sell his paintings. But Ben breaks off his relationship with Suzie and Kay, uncomfortable with Suzie the prostitute posing for Ben, leaves him. Abandoned by their lovers and thrown together, the two become involved, with tragic consequences. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Richard Quine
- Written By
- John Patrick
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Classics
- In Theaters
- Nov 10, 1960 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
On the decidedly negative side are three passages in which realism is virtually abandoned for theatrical effect.
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, Time Out
Denied the chance of being honest about its subject, it soon degenerates into euphemistic soap opera, with vague gestures towards bohemianism and lukewarm titillation.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
[A] wildly romantic, vividly imagined color film.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The World of Suzie Wong is rife with problems.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though stereotypical, this interracial romantic melodrama was one of William Holden's most popular films
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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William Holden
as Robert Lomax
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Nancy Kwan
as Suzie Wong
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Sylvia Syms
as Kay O'Neil
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Michael Wilding
as Ben
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Jacqui Chan
as Gwenny Lee
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Laurence Naismith
as Mr. O'Neill
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Lionel Blair
as Dancer
- Edwina Carroll
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Bernard Cribbins
as Otis
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Andy Ho
as Ah Tong
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Yvonne Shima
as Minnie Ho
- Marian Spencer
- Dervis Ward
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Robbie Lee
as Barman
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Ronald Eng
as Waiter
- Lier Hwang