Review of Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) by Mloy X — 02 Jul 2008

This is the pre-Suzie Wong film that reflects the growing Hollywood fascination with the exotic Orient as the then new cinematic landscape to play out an East-West heterosexual romance. What is most fascinating for me is the casting of Jennifer Jones as a Chinese-European hybrid, allowing for audiences to accept the possibility of romance with William Holden's character.

Of course, her hybridity lacks the political resonance that Homi Bhabha has given the term, resulting in cultural essentialisms that make viewing the film from a 2008-standpoint a rather distracting experience.

Saving grace, though: Holden still sizzles in that 1950's geek chic fashion.