Robert Lomax(William Holden) is a struggling American artist, who has
moved to Hong Kong to learn if he can really paint. He meets Mee
Ling(Nancy Kwan), a beautiful tycoon's daughter, in a fateful
encounter onboard Hong Kong's Star Ferry. Departing and expecting
never to find each other again, Robert checks into a local Wan Chai
hotel. To his great surprise, he learns that the hotel is actually a
brothel, and Mee Ling is actually Suzie Wong, the most popular
prostitute in the place. What unfolds is the classic
"East-meets-West" romance that made Nancy Kwan an international star.
Refusing to accept Suzie because of her way of life, and surrounded by
the prejudice of the local British colonials, he nonetheless takes her
on his model. Meanwhile, he meets Kay O'Neil(Sylvia Syms), a
respectable banker's daughter who begins to have feelings for him, and
Ben(Michael Wilding), a besotted British businessman separated from
his wife, who takes an interest in Suzie. Robert's relationship with
Suzie begins as a purely artistic one, then becomes platonic
friendship, then anger tinged with hidden jealousy and internal
conflict, then passionate love, and finally an acceptance of her as a
complete person. In the process Suzie both transforms him and is
transformed by him. When the monsoon rains come to Hong Kong, they
are finally united, but not without tragic consequences. The film
captures the colorful teeming streets of a long-vanished Hong Kong,
before it became the gleaming commercial capital it is today. The
film also popularized the cheongsam, the high-collared
form-fitting Chinese silk dress which afterwards became known as the
Suzie Wong dress in America. William Holden is a charismatic
leading man and shows a real chemistry with Nancy Kwan. The
supporting cast turns in good performances. However, it is Nancy
Kwan's wonderful portrayal of Suzie Wong, her very first screen role,
that really makes this film. Combining genuine sex appeal with
girlish innocence and courage in the face of adversity, her
performance was widely acclaimed and she was awarded a Golden Globe.
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