China Doll ** (1958, Victor Mature, Li Li-Hua, Ward Bond) – Classic Movie Review 11,920

Victor Mature and Li Li-Hua in China Doll (1958).

The 1958 film China Doll is a rather soppy, outmoded romantic drama from old-time director Frank Borzage, set in the China Burma India Theatre of World War Two, with wartime cargo aircraft pilot Captain Cliff Brandon (Victor Mature) by mistake acquiring a Chinese wife, Shu-Jen (Li Li-Hua).

She gives him a child and his love of humankind back, before the big dramatic finish. With its well meaning but simplistic script, this is a weird but not very wonderful movie.

It is the first co-production of Batjac Productions and Romina Productions, followed by the Western film Escort West (1959), also with Mature, their last.

The screenplay is by Kitty Buhler, based on a story by James Benson Nablo and Thomas F Kelly. The poster naturally emphasises action, especially aerial action, but it is the romantic drama that dominates the film.

Filming started on 15 August 1957, with location shooting at Saugus, California, and it was released on June 8, 1958 (UK) and December 3, 1958 (US).

Notable director Borzage had stopped directing after making the film noir Moonrise (1948). China Doll marked his return to Hollywood after a 10-year gap, but he completed only one more film, The Big Fisherman. Borzage was an Academy Award-winning American film director and actor, known for directing 7th Heaven (1927), Street Angel (1928), Bad Girl (1931), A Farewell to Arms (1932), Man’s Castle (1933), History Is Made at Night (1937), The Mortal Storm (1940) and Moonrise (1948).

The cast are Victor Mature as Captain Cliff Brandon, Li Li-Hua as Shu-Jen, Ward Bond as Father Cairns, Bob Mathias as Captain Phil Gates, Johnny Desmond as Sgt Steve Hill, Stuart Whitman [Stu Whitman] as Lt Dan O’Neill, Elaine Devry [Elaine Curtis] as Alice Nichols, Ann McCrea as Mona Perkins, Danny Chang as Ellington, Denver Pyle as Col Wiley, Don ‘Red’ Barry as MSgt Hal Foster, Tige Andrews as Cpl Carlo Menotti, Steve Mitchell as Dave Reisner, Ken Perry as Sgt Ernie Fleming, Ann Paige as Sally, Gregg Barton as Airman, and Bill White Jr as Forsyth.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,920

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