I did not see this movie when it was released in the 1960s. Seeing it now, for the first time in 2006, makes clear that it has aged poorly. Some people may have fond memories of it as exotic and romantic, but my impression is that it is racist and sexist. Incredibly racist and incredibly sexist.
Did anyone do any kind of research for this movie? What is the nonsense with the inability to pronounce 'r's'? (Chinese speakers have no problem in pronouncing r's~~ as in Run Run Shaw and Runwe Shaw, for starters...)
For a moment I will imagine the racist and sexist issues do not exist (Interestingly enough, Shaw Brothers made a movie a few years later entitled, "My Name Ain't Suzie".)~~William Holden looks too old for this role. Much too old. He seems to have no past; what has he been doing since he became an adult, anyway?
Nancy Kwan's Suzie may have larger problems than speaking broken English--she may be stupid as well. Even after her English improves, it is hard to imagine this couple as a couple dealing with the Ordinary Problems of Life. When the pipes freeze, will Suzie pout, then storm out the door for a day or so?
What do they talk about? Lobert is supposedly an architect but Suzie's illiterate and more than slightly childish. When Lobert brings her home to meet the folks, her kinda-sort Chineseness may be a problem for a few of the oldest relatives, but I suspect her illiteracy and dim-wittedness will drive Clan Lobert completely crazy.
Did anyone do any kind of research for this movie? What is the nonsense with the inability to pronounce 'r's'? (Chinese speakers have no problem in pronouncing r's~~ as in Run Run Shaw and Runwe Shaw, for starters...)
For a moment I will imagine the racist and sexist issues do not exist (Interestingly enough, Shaw Brothers made a movie a few years later entitled, "My Name Ain't Suzie".)~~William Holden looks too old for this role. Much too old. He seems to have no past; what has he been doing since he became an adult, anyway?
Nancy Kwan's Suzie may have larger problems than speaking broken English--she may be stupid as well. Even after her English improves, it is hard to imagine this couple as a couple dealing with the Ordinary Problems of Life. When the pipes freeze, will Suzie pout, then storm out the door for a day or so?
What do they talk about? Lobert is supposedly an architect but Suzie's illiterate and more than slightly childish. When Lobert brings her home to meet the folks, her kinda-sort Chineseness may be a problem for a few of the oldest relatives, but I suspect her illiteracy and dim-wittedness will drive Clan Lobert completely crazy.