This is an epic in the truest sense of the word and perhaps even serves to define that term cinematically. It is indeed true motion picture greatness at its very greatest. With spectacular set-piece battle scenes, awesome in their scope, breathtaking in their vastness, it describes the pride and fury of the siege of the Peking Legation Quarter by the Boxers, when the fate of Western interests and destiny of China itself hung precariously in the balance. The lives of hundreds were at risk as rampaging, savage mobs of Boxers in their fanatic opium fed fever relentlessly attacked and attacked and attacked without mercy. In fact, it was a time when mercy had no meaning to those who vied to slaughter the innocents within the legation quarter and destroy all the modern progress they had shared with the Chinese people. The tension builds to a fever pitch of excitement simply unprecedented in film history and although not completely accurate historically, it is a strong metaphor for the existing risk to Western civilization during the height of the Cold War. Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David Niven are at the apex of their super-star powers and lead a superb cast that includes a literal "cast of thousands." Superbly filmed and directed by Nicholas Ray, with beautiful photography, costumes, and sets that are nothing less than magnificent. The score by Dimitri Tiomkin is deeply moving and inspiring in its symphonic splendor, music that only he could compose. The screenplay by the gifted Philip Yordan, fills the screen with personal stories as accents to the grandeur, the people who lived this historic moment bringing the tale alive as we share their terror filled days, weeks of courage, and passion filled nights, destiny unfolding around them. Incredibly based upon true-life characters that participated in the ultimate victory won by the International relief column of multinational troops that was to eventually save the besieged from the Boxer blades, it is a triumphant story that cried out to be told and deserved to be depicted by the most talented actors, artists, and technicians available at the time. The vision of one of the most visionary producers in motion pictures, the legendary Samuel Bronston, was realized in this masterpiece with epic power yet tremendous intimacy. With widescreen scope and rich color unlike anything seen today, this is one of the most stirring, stunning, and passionate adventures ever filmed and is not to be missed by anyone interested in cinema greatness. Gripping, overwhelming, and unforgettable!

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.

In 1900 Beijing (as Peking), wicked Chinese people are murdering Christians and white people. Many good citizens of the world gather to make the land safe for women, children and kind foreigners. Leading the charge is American epic hero Charlton Heston (as Matt Lewis), who rides in tall on his horse. Romance for Mr. Heston is provided by Russian Baroness Ava Gardner (as Natalie Ivanoff), looking like a movie star returning to the screen in full diva mode. But beautiful young Lynne Sue Moon (as Teresa) gives Heston his best moments. Ambassadors of good will from France, Germany and other concerned countries are also present; dependable David Niven (as Arthur Robinson) represents the British...The strengths in producer Samuel Bronston's "55 Days at Peking" are found in the wide-screen scenes, directed by Nicholas Ray and his replacements; their battle sequences are especially exciting. The story is laughable, though, with the three big stars essaying their typical characterizations. While not exactly Asian (casting no surprise), regal dowager Flora Robson (as Tzu-Hsi) and princely Robert Helpmann (as Tuan) are more impressive. In what looks like thousands and thousands of actors, what stands out the most are Kurt Kasznar's sideburns. If you last for the film's entire running time, you'll hear Andy Williams sing the film's ironic theme song "So Little Time" which peaked at #115 on the Billboard record charts...***** 55 Days at Peking (5/29/63) Nicholas Ray ~ Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, David Niven, Flora Robson

China has produced many a historical event which has shaped it's past. The discovery of Gun Powder, Rockets and even spaghetti are said to have originated in this vast country. Yet it is the rise of the Boxers which still provokes much debate among scholars today. This exceptional film called " 55 Days at Peking " was directed by Nicholas Ray and has been hailed as perhaps the best rendition of that infamous rebellion. The years of the Boxer Rebellion spanned 1898 thru 1901 and involved the nine imperial powers of the world. The reasons for the rebellion were manifest, but chief among them concerned the ever growing problem of Christian missionaries spreading like locust across China. Accompanying the Christians were the business profiteers who systematically drained the wealth and natural resources of China. The film dwells mainly on the military conflict between the foreign powers, the Boxers and the Imperial Empress Dowager Cixi (Flora Robson) and lasted 55 days. Although Charlton Heston plays American Maj. Matt Lewis, his commanding presence is overshadowed by David Niven who plays Sir. Arthur Robertson. Together they share the screen with such notables as Ava Gardner, Harry Andrews, Leo Glenn and John Ireland. The movie which offers hundreds of angry sign-carrying multitudes, also has impressive battle scenes, terrific explosions and physical mayhem, is also touched by several poignant moments. Although entertaining, the movie labors at several intervals. Nevertheless, the movie with its multi-star cast earned enough praise to list it as a historical Classic. Recommended to anyone seeking amusement from the pages of Chinese history. ****