The following is a review that I had to write about in my Asian History class. We watched the movie '55 days in Peking'
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Bobby Montgomery
September 19, 2006
A Reflection on the Movie “55 Days in Peking
In the 1963 film “55 days in Peking” about the Boxer invasion of China, Charleston Heston plays a U.S. Army Major, Major Matt Lewis. The film also starred Ava Gardner and David Nevin. Major Lewis was an American and was the main character in the film.
The film “55 Days in Peking” was clearly written to a western audience. The story was told from the American perspective due to the main character was an American soldier. The story gave from subtle hints to big ones about the feelings that the Americans had to the Chinese and to the Boxers. One of the things that I quickly noticed was that the Chinese Palace was dark and dingy looking. At the opening of the movie, it starts off with all the bands playing there national anthems and they were all celebrating being in China. In the end the Americans and the other countries that were left to fight off the Boxers rejoiced that their reinforcements finally arrived. The story also ends with the defeat of the Boxers and once again all of the bands playing there own national anthems.
The British were trying to protect there trading possessions in China and that is why that they did not want to leave China even though they were the only ones wanting to remain. Under pressures of looking bad the Americans and the other nations stayed to help in the fight against the Boxers. This is probably the way it all unfolded but it once again gave a sense of national pride because the West was going to join together to defeat the foes of the east.
This movie was a good movie and I felt that it showed the views of the era that the film was made. Actually, after watching the film “55 days at Peking” I felt more knowledgeable toward understanding the Boxer rebellion. I felt that the message was very clear about how the West felt about the East at this period of time.
________________________________________________________________________
Bobby Montgomery
September 19, 2006
A Reflection on the Movie “55 Days in Peking
In the 1963 film “55 days in Peking” about the Boxer invasion of China, Charleston Heston plays a U.S. Army Major, Major Matt Lewis. The film also starred Ava Gardner and David Nevin. Major Lewis was an American and was the main character in the film.
The film “55 Days in Peking” was clearly written to a western audience. The story was told from the American perspective due to the main character was an American soldier. The story gave from subtle hints to big ones about the feelings that the Americans had to the Chinese and to the Boxers. One of the things that I quickly noticed was that the Chinese Palace was dark and dingy looking. At the opening of the movie, it starts off with all the bands playing there national anthems and they were all celebrating being in China. In the end the Americans and the other countries that were left to fight off the Boxers rejoiced that their reinforcements finally arrived. The story also ends with the defeat of the Boxers and once again all of the bands playing there own national anthems.
The British were trying to protect there trading possessions in China and that is why that they did not want to leave China even though they were the only ones wanting to remain. Under pressures of looking bad the Americans and the other nations stayed to help in the fight against the Boxers. This is probably the way it all unfolded but it once again gave a sense of national pride because the West was going to join together to defeat the foes of the east.
This movie was a good movie and I felt that it showed the views of the era that the film was made. Actually, after watching the film “55 days at Peking” I felt more knowledgeable toward understanding the Boxer rebellion. I felt that the message was very clear about how the West felt about the East at this period of time.
posted by Bobby | 6:57 AM
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