The World of Suzie Wong (1960)

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

Paul Osborn (adaptation)
Richard Mason (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

1961 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

You are the first man I ever loved... and the world has only just begun...

Plot:

Robert Lomax tired of working in an office, wants to be an artist. So he moves to Hong Kong to try his hand at painting...

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Artist | Tragedy | Negative Asian Stereotype | Prostitution

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

William Holden	...	Robert Lomax
Nancy Kwan	...	Suzie Wong a.k.a. Mee Ling Wong
Sylvia Syms	...	Kay O'Neill
Michael Wilding	...	Ben Marlowe
Jacqui Chan	...	Gwennie Lee
Laurence Naismith	...	O'Neill
Yvonne Shima	...	Minnie Ho
Andy Ho	...	Ah Tong
Lier Hwang	...	Wednesday Lu
Bernard Cribbins	...	Otis, Gwennie's boy friend
Edwina Carroll	...	Mrs. Marlowe
Dervis Ward	...	British Sailor
Marian Spencer	...	Dinner Guest
Lionel Blair	...	Dancing Sailor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ronald Eng	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Calvin Hsia	...	Suzie's Baby (uncredited)
David Langton	...	Police Inspector (uncredited)
Shan Lawrence	...	Girl (uncredited)
Robert Lee	...	Barman (uncredited)
Toke Townley	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Quine

Writing credits
Paul Osborn		(adaptation)
Richard Mason		(novel)
John Patrick		(screenplay)

Produced by
Hugh Perceval	....	producer
Ray Stark	....	executive producer

Original Music by
George Duning

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
Bert Bates

Art Direction by
John Box

Costume Design by
Phyllis Dalton

Makeup Department
Bill Griffiths	....	hairdressing
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
R.L.M. Davidson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gus Agosti	....	assistant director

Art Department
Syd Cain	....	assistant art director (as Sydney Cain)
Liz Moore	....	paintings (as Elizabeth Moore)
Roy Rossotti	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Roy Baker	....	sound editor
Gerry Turner	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Cecil R. Cooney	....	camera operator (as Ces Cooney)

Casting Department
Joe Powell	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Valerie Leslie	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor
Reg Owen	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Angela Allen	....	continuity
Joshua Logan	....	original stage director
David Merrick	....	original stage producer

Production Companies

• World Enterprises (as A World Enterprises Inc. - Worldfilm Limited co-production)

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1960) (UK) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Release)
• Paramount Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Release)
• Paramount Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1970) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Mansfield Productions  original stage production company
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios  production facilities
• Seven Arts Productions  original stage production company

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #19621) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:A

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

World Enterprises

Trivia:

As an former student of the Royal Ballet School in London, a 20-year-old Nancy Kwan was discovered by producer Ray Stark after the coveted role of Suzie Wong was up for grabs after French-Vietnamese actress France Nuyen suffered a bout of chronic laryngitis.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Robert Lomax (Holden) begins to strip the European clothes off Suzy Wong (Kwan), her hair is piled smartly up under her cap and can be seen to remain that way. However, when Lomax goes to pull the cap off her head, Suzy's long tresses are fully down and covering her back.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Code Name: Diamond Head (#7.8)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

The World of Suzie Wong

Good romantic comedy defined.

There was a time when late night TV meant Johnny Carson and a cloud of dust, the other two networks scrambling locally with ‘Million Dollar Movie' packages. It was a time when broad appeal movies like `The World of Suzie Wong' flourished on TV-start with a basic romance, add exotic settings and just a hint of comedy.

William Holden was never more a leading man than in this film. Take all the dynamic sex appeal he exudes in Network, and turn the clock back some 15 years. He is commanding.

This quirky little comedy hits all the right spots, with Nancy Kwan absolutely stunning as the Won-Tsai Girl, Suzie. Beautiful Hong Kong landscapes are just the cherry on top of this sweet deal.