EarDelightBase Waste of Money.

Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

mikevonbach But what is not usually gone into is the other side of the coin. China was not well governed for the bulk of the population. In fact, in the 1850s and 1860s there was a long and bloody Civil War (The Taiping Rebellion) that was to make an international figure out of the British General who finally put it down (Charles George "Chinese" Gordon). The reason for the rebellion was partly religious, but it was also partly economic - the peasantry was tired supporting the Manchu Court in Beijing (the Peking of the movie title). A succession of weak emperors were plaguing the country, who were manipulated by Tzu - Hsi (one of the most unscrupulous monarchs in history). Tzu - Hsi would basically control the Chinese Government from 1860 to 1908, when she died. Her idea of government responsibility is illustrated by a famous act of selfishness she performed. When China's navy was trounced in the Sino - Japanese War of 1894 (Japan had a modern navy), it was decided to use tax money to build up the Chinese navy to compete with Japan again. The Dowager Empress agreed - she took the money earmarked for battleships, and built a super battleship. Only it was made of marble, in the shape of a battleship, and was put on land as a summer palace. It is still standing as a tourist attraction.Humiliations were not only done by Europeans, Americans, and Japanese. If you recall the geography lesson scene in THE KING AND I, the children are unconvinced about the small size of Siam as opposed to China. The Crown Prince points out that China can't be that big - it's monarchy is considered weak, while Siam's is strong. Well, in this period, Siam (Thailand) also had managed to get some territory back from China - and to become rather important in the area of southeast Asia. This would not have been the case in the 17th or 18th Centuries.In 1900 the Chinese finally exploded. The people had been forming para- military groups in the late 1890s (in the wake of the defeat by Japan) which were ultra-Nationalist, fervently anti-foreign, and fervently in favor of Chinese religious beliefs over Christian. The Dowager Empress realized that it would be advantageous to her to let these energies be expanded towards the foreigners: it would keep these people looking too closely at her misrule. Without officially countenancing these groups (called "Boxers" because their translated

JohnLeeT This is an epic in the truest sense of the word and perhaps even serves to define that term cinematically. It is indeed true motion picture greatness at its very greatest. With spectacular set-piece battle scenes, awesome in their scope, breathtaking in their vastness, it describes the pride and fury of the siege of the Peking Legation Quarter by the Boxers, when the fate of Western interests and destiny of China itself hung precariously in the balance. The lives of hundreds were at risk as rampaging, savage mobs of Boxers in their fanatic opium fed fever relentlessly attacked and attacked and attacked without mercy. In fact, it was a time when mercy had no meaning to those who vied to slaughter the innocents within the legation quarter and destroy all the modern progress they had shared with the Chinese people. The tension builds to a fever pitch of excitement simply unprecedented in film history and although not completely accurate historically, it is a strong metaphor for the existing risk to Western civilization during the height of the Cold War. Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David Niven are at the apex of their super-star powers and lead a superb cast that includes a literal "cast of thousands." Superbly filmed and directed by Nicholas Ray, with beautiful photography, costumes, and sets that are nothing less than magnificent. The score by Dimitri Tiomkin is deeply moving and inspiring in its symphonic splendor, music that only he could compose. The screenplay by the gifted Philip Yordan, fills the screen with personal stories as accents to the grandeur, the people who lived this historic moment bringing the tale alive as we share their terror filled days, weeks of courage, and passion filled nights, destiny unfolding around them. Incredibly based upon true-life characters that participated in the ultimate victory won by the International relief column of multinational troops that was to eventually save the besieged from the Boxer blades, it is a triumphant story that cried out to be told and deserved to be depicted by the most talented actors, artists, and technicians available at the time. The vision of one of the most visionary producers in motion pictures, the legendary Samuel Bronston, was realized in this masterpiece with epic power yet tremendous intimacy. With widescreen scope and rich color unlike anything seen today, this is one of the most stirring, stunning, and passionate adventures ever filmed and is not to be missed by anyone interested in cinema greatness. Gripping, overwhelming, and unforgettable!

keveen2 The detail in this film are reasonably accurate. It starts out well and develops quite believably until it gets to the rebellion itself. At this point it becomes a cowboys and Indians movie - good white guys versus anonymous Chinese who are mowed down in familiar Hollywood fashion. David Niven is made to babble on about benign Western motivations which are in complete contradiction to the reasons why they are all there in the first place. So the usual Hollywood muddle that doesn't add up. However it is worth watching and is well made. All the acting is good and although its white men and women pretending to be the important Chinese they do it without being silly or ridiculous. It doesn't offer any insights but its worth watching. The emotional quieter scenes are just padding, not convincing.

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.