Plot: Beijing, early 20th century. Major Matt Lewis (Charlton Heston) and a detachment of Marines arrive in Beijing to protect the U.S. embassy following the “Boxer” uprising —rebels who use martial arts and are fighting to expel foreigners as well as their fellow countrymen who have embraced Christianity—which threatens all foreigners residing there. Major Lewis meets Baroness Natalie Ivanov (Ava Gardner) when the Russian ambassador to Beijing, Sergei Ivanov—who happens to be her son-in-law—revokes her permission to remain in the country. The attraction between them is mutual, and they will try to find a way for the Baroness to remain in the country. However, their lives will take an unexpected turn when the German ambassador is assassinated and the Empress of China issues a declaration of war to all the embassies. Soon, the small garrison protecting the embassies comes under attack from all sides. A bloody siege has just begun.
This is a grand-scale production, directed by the unconventional Nicholas Ray, which skillfully balances action with the director’s anti-war messages. Of course, the film brings together everything that made Hollywood famous for its movies: grand sets, exceptional action and war scenes, and a superb leading cast. However, it does not get carried away by the bloodshed and explosions, keeping the human drama of the characters at the center—people who want to survive without losing their humanity. All of this makes for an important film that you shouldn’t miss and that is rightly considered a classic.
Original Title: 55 Days at Peking
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Directed by: Nicholas Ray, Guy Green
Starring: Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, David Niven, Flora Robson, John Ireland, Elizabeth Sellars, Harry Andrews, Massimo Serato
