Based on a real life incident. The love story between an American reporter and an Eurasian doctor is given the 1950's Hollywood treatment. In other words all of the life and passion has been sucked out of it. In the film Jennifer Jones plays the Eurasian, Han Suyin who slowly falls in love with an American war correspondent played by William Holden. The film wants to pretend it's somewhat controversial with some very shallow discussions about race but everything is smothered over with lots of travelog shots of Hong Kong where the film is set. As this was the prissy 1950's absolutely no sign of any kind of passionate love affair between the two of them was allowed.
If anything the behind the scenes antics would probably have made a better film. Apparently Jennifer Jones and William Holden didn't get along at all. This culminated in Jones eating garlic before their kissing scenes and extended to her throwing flowers at Holden who had sent them as a peace offering during the shooting. Jones complained that the cameraman made her look old and she was described as "rude and abrasive," to the production team. It's a tribute to both the actors that on screen they actually look like they like much less love each other.
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing was filmed in 20th Century Fox's widescreen process Cinemascope and the title tune became a big hit. The film was financially successful but it is also very bland in a 1950's kind of way. The dialog doesn't really help matters with Jones who barely looks Eurasian mouthing fortune cookie platitudes about Asia throughout the film. William Holden comes off a little better. Apparently the screenwriter John Patrick had his hands full having to incorporate scenes shot in Hong Kong by a 2nd unit and the studio sets where the film was finished.
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing is good example of a rather trite love story put over by a good Hollywood production team but it's really not much of a film. The running time is 102 minutes.
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