I saw this movie in full cinemascope in 1963 - it was part of the epic assembly line through the fifties and sixties, especially form Samuel Bronston made in Spain studio. At the time I did not feel that it climbed the heights of 'El Cid' but that it was an attractive blockbuster with action, sub plots, decent acting and direction. It is a film about 1900 and it was made in the early sixties - so please let us not have the bleeding heart sensibilities of liberal anti-colonialists of modern times excusing Chinese violence but condemning Western atrocities. The story concerns the native Chinese Boxer Rebellion of 1900 against the West's trading and Christian influence in China - with not too much made of the violent killing of western missionaries and Chinese christians by the rebels - and the subsequent siege by the rebels of the Diplomatic Quarter in Peking for 55 days. The film focuses inwards rather than outwards, as against large odds the Westerners fight off the rebels (this is the truth by the way!). But on seeing it again almost 50 years on, the story and script have a lot more going on than seems at first viewing. There are lots of questions about why the US is on the Asian mainland (cue early Vietnam issues) and historically Western nations fighting each other in proxy wars on foreign soil - very relevant in the early sixties. the film itself allows Charlton Heston to inhabit a rather less than heroic role as he blunders through relationships knowing only how to fight battles as a marine. David Niven gives an old school charm and believability to the leading British diplomat faced with trying to keep rival nations together. Ava Gardner looks good and her part as fallen aristocrat who bedded a Chinese general can be seen as a parallel and touchstone to attitudes to the black struggle for equal rights in the US at the time. The action and script run out of steam towards the end but a satisfying re-watch with so much more to be understood in a very clever script.

Heston, Gardner and Niven star in film about China's historic Boxer Rebellion and the subsequent siege of the foreign legation section of Peking (now Beijing). Filmed in an era when Hollywood was awash in epics, the most successful of which was the previous year's Lawrence of Arabia, the movie seeks to add human drama to a tragic time in the intersection of Western Colonialism and Chinese history. Epics were conspicuous in Hollywood fare for nearly another 10 years, but this one is quite mediocre, at best. Naturally, the story is told mostly from the view of Western colonialists, and conveniently omits some of the savagery that accompanied the Western 8-nation relief force, which included murder, rape and pillaging. This is not to excuse the Boxers themselves, who were also very brutal, but there were atrocities on both sides. The fictional human drama of the story tries to capture passion, romance and tragedy, but it falls flat, with no chemistry between Heston and Gardner. Heston is particularly wooden in his romantic performance. There is also a peculiar plot element added, that of a pretty young Chinese child who seems mysteriously drawn to the strong, wooden soldier Heston, but no real connection between her and the Western military man is ever satisfactorily established. Niven and several other characters seem to exist merely to give the story an international flair. The Chinese are not cast in a favorable light, though it was the Chinese who bore the brunt of Boxer savagery. The Dowager Empress, Cixi, is portrayed by a Western actress--typical of that era of film making--and is calculating and cruel. Some of the "Chinese" music and singing we hear in the film sounds more like the contrived chants from an Indiana Jones movie, to induce, one assumes, a more "exotic" mood. The Chinese generally in the movie have a role not substantially different from that of the Indians in your typical 1950's or 60's wild-west movie. Any attempt to give a realistic depiction of the historical complexity of this event were sacrificed in favor of clichéd Hollywood drama.

First, this is one of those films that really deserves to be seen on the big screen. It is an epic production, and it is done extremely well. Sets are lavish, and from what I have read, remarkably accurate.On the downside, the production is overly long. With the scope of the story, it was bound to be over 2 hours, but the run time here is a full 2 hours and 30 minutes.I remember seeing this film when it was first released, and was impressed by it. But then being less impressed when I saw it on television quite a few years ago. However, the new release, clearly restored, made it a wonderful film to watch again.This is a somewhat accurate depiction of events during the Boxer Rebellion, and yes, the foreign delegations were holed up in (then) Peking for 55 days. Sure, the film is somewhat fictionalized, but in a reasonable way...it's just good...make that great...movie making.This was back in the good old days when Charlton Heston was still just a wonderful actor, before he got all political and ruined his own career. He is great here. Fits the role perfectly.Ava Gardner has never been one of my favorites, but I did enjoy her in this film. A very good performance.And, this film is a good reminder of just how good David Niven was. He is perfect here as the conflicted British diplomat, and his scenes with Charlton Heston are very, very good.There are a handful of other character actors you'll recognize. I was pleased to see Paul Lukas, having just watched him in "Watch On The Rhine".I highly this film, which I feel is underrated here on IMDb. Perhaps it's the time we live in, as compared to the time when this was first released. I give it very high marks, and I would guess it finds a place on quite a few DVD shelves.

The opening scenes in this movie were beautiful...illustrating the grandeur and wonderful tradition of China. The rest of the movie was a mess. Boring, slow-moving, poorly acted and directed are just a few words to describe this over-priced epic. Historically, this movie portrayed the foreign soldiers as the beleaguered group. Weren't the Chinese/Boxers fighting for their lives too? Charlton Heston was miscast as an American soldier...he is better in sci-fi and religious movies. Ava Gardner, looking bloated and bewildered, is also miscast. There was absolutely no chemistry between Heston and Gardner. When Ava Gardner died (none too soon) it was a relief. When Charlton Heston discovered she was dead, he didn't react. I thought they were in love. Silly me. The "Chinese" actors were Caucasians made-up to look like Chinese! Don't waste your time.