Review of Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) by Nik B — 24 Jan 2011

One of two movies with a shirtless William Holden on the poster. This one has the benefit of including Jennifer Jones on it, whom I have loved for a long time. She plays a Chinese-English nurse in Hong Kong.

And because no one can think of an original reason why an American would be in Hong Kong, he's a reporter (military would have also have been possible.) Now, ten years have passed since I saw Miss Jones, but she looks positively old.

Maybe its just that she was miserable acting with Holden. There's no rapport between them. And there really is nothing of value in this story. Strong, independent widow starts seeing suave playboy reporter.

He falls in love. She keeps her distance. When she returns to China, he follows, but her Chinese family doesn't approve of foreigners. So they cut her off and let her go. 5 minutes. done. Then he tries to get a divorce.

5 minutes. done. The rest of the movie is sitting around, reading letters and waiting for the other to get back from work. In one cheeseball scene that was clearly shooting for sexy- they touch the tips of their cigarettes to pass the light on.

Like a carcinogenic Lady & the Tramp. Barely romantic and often dull. The shots of Hong Kong were nice, but not enough to recommend.