Now then I know that Asian stars goin to Hollywood actuallly went back a long time ago as far back as in the old days of black and white cinema. Gee, I thot the process only started with the likes of chow yun fatt, jackie chan and so on.
it's a shame that Hollywood couldn't find a better role for Li Lihua. I can't see her as an ingenue in this film given her strong and glamorous personality. it would also help a lot if she could speak some English. Her role here is too one-dimensional and limiting for a woman of many talents, while other Asian actresses like Shirley Yamaguchi managed to get more interesting roles during the 50s.
Yeah, this film was definitely a wasted opportunity. Li Lihua was originally supposed to star with Yul Brynner in The Buccaneer (1958). But from what I've read of the plot, it's not clear to me how she would have fit in the story without rewriting it completely. It would have been cool to see her as a lady pirate à la Anne of the Indies (1951). But obviously, Hollywood at that time was more comfortable portraying Asian women as war brides and china dolls.
I agree with you and if you remark, in most westerner's tought, they still look down the asian, particulary, the asian women, that was treated inferior than them, as they can do anything with, even slap on the asian's women's face, as in the bamboo house, 1955 (Li xiang lan, Yoshiko Yamaguchi)
I hope she got to have more dialogue than this; Victor Mature ends up saying far more than she does.
Did they have a happy marriage? If she got taken back to the USA, I suspect there were problems.
Too bad the little boy has such a strong American accent. But that's typical of Hollywood movies; he's actually a kid from California, and he sounds like it.
This is pretty representative of her dialogue in the movie. I don't know if it's because Li Lihua didn't speak much English or if that's just the way the script was written.
I don't want to give away the ending, but Li Lihua's character never makes it back to the US.
She's a servant girl so not supposed to be speaking English at all! That's her role here. They could've subtitled her dialogue but I guess they didn't want to do that, because she would've only been talking to the little boy who after all, speaks terrible Mandarin.
Li Li Hua is definitely the most iconic actresses of all time in Chinese cinema.For me, she is a cross in between Joan Crawford and Liz Taylor, for ther survival instinct and her unrivalled glamour, she is just so legendary.Her career span of almost 40 years, in which for 30 years, she was the top billing star.She has a pair of beautiful and exotic slanted eyes that we Chinese describe as "Phoenix Eyes", she looks regal and yet enchanting
Li Li Hua is unquestionably one of the most beautiful women that ever walked this earth. I don't think anyone can argue with that. But surprisingly, on some other post someone had commented on her looks in a negative manner pointing out that her eyes were slightly crossed. Wow, I thought, some people are impossible to satisfy.
For me, the imperfection with her eyes isn't so much a flaw -- it just adds character to her physical beauty making her human.
Ha... I've never even noticed Li Lihua's slightly crossed eyes. Like you, I love imperfections in a person's beauty. In fact, there is another Chinese actress with even more imperfect eyes who I've always found very sexy: Tang Bik-wan.
She reminds me of Vivien Leigh!
plumeria66 5 months ago
Now then I know that Asian stars goin to Hollywood actuallly went back a long time ago as far back as in the old days of black and white cinema. Gee, I thot the process only started with the likes of chow yun fatt, jackie chan and so on.
Nanyanguo 6 months ago
stupid.she can't talk any english.
heldCmeron 1 year ago
@heldCmeron
You're one to talk. The correct grammar is 'she can't SPEAK english"
itsme61 7 months ago
it's a shame that Hollywood couldn't find a better role for Li Lihua. I can't see her as an ingenue in this film given her strong and glamorous personality. it would also help a lot if she could speak some English. Her role here is too one-dimensional and limiting for a woman of many talents, while other Asian actresses like Shirley Yamaguchi managed to get more interesting roles during the 50s.
SugarKatie 1 year ago
Yeah, this film was definitely a wasted opportunity. Li Lihua was originally supposed to star with Yul Brynner in The Buccaneer (1958). But from what I've read of the plot, it's not clear to me how she would have fit in the story without rewriting it completely. It would have been cool to see her as a lady pirate à la Anne of the Indies (1951). But obviously, Hollywood at that time was more comfortable portraying Asian women as war brides and china dolls.
duriandave 1 year ago
@SugarKatie
I agree with you and if you remark, in most westerner's tought, they still look down the asian, particulary, the asian women, that was treated inferior than them, as they can do anything with, even slap on the asian's women's face, as in the bamboo house, 1955 (Li xiang lan, Yoshiko Yamaguchi)
Discdecire 9 months ago
She was so pretty
sakurasoh 1 year ago
I hope she got to have more dialogue than this; Victor Mature ends up saying far more than she does.
Did they have a happy marriage? If she got taken back to the USA, I suspect there were problems.
Too bad the little boy has such a strong American accent. But that's typical of Hollywood movies; he's actually a kid from California, and he sounds like it.
hebneh 2 years ago
This is pretty representative of her dialogue in the movie. I don't know if it's because Li Lihua didn't speak much English or if that's just the way the script was written.
I don't want to give away the ending, but Li Lihua's character never makes it back to the US.
duriandave 2 years ago
@duriandave
She's a servant girl so not supposed to be speaking English at all! That's her role here. They could've subtitled her dialogue but I guess they didn't want to do that, because she would've only been talking to the little boy who after all, speaks terrible Mandarin.
plumeria66 5 months ago
Li Li Hua is definitely the most iconic actresses of all time in Chinese cinema.For me, she is a cross in between Joan Crawford and Liz Taylor, for ther survival instinct and her unrivalled glamour, she is just so legendary.Her career span of almost 40 years, in which for 30 years, she was the top billing star.She has a pair of beautiful and exotic slanted eyes that we Chinese describe as "Phoenix Eyes", she looks regal and yet enchanting
VMAG991969 2 years ago
Yes, Li Li Hua is truly the queen of Chinese cinema, much more so than Lin Dai in my opinion (apologies to Lin Dai fans).
"Phoenix Eyes"... cool... glad to learn a new Chinese figure of speech. :)
duriandave 2 years ago
Li Li Hua is unquestionably one of the most beautiful women that ever walked this earth. I don't think anyone can argue with that. But surprisingly, on some other post someone had commented on her looks in a negative manner pointing out that her eyes were slightly crossed. Wow, I thought, some people are impossible to satisfy.
For me, the imperfection with her eyes isn't so much a flaw -- it just adds character to her physical beauty making her human.
lassley 3 years ago
Ha... I've never even noticed Li Lihua's slightly crossed eyes. Like you, I love imperfections in a person's beauty. In fact, there is another Chinese actress with even more imperfect eyes who I've always found very sexy: Tang Bik-wan.
duriandave 3 years ago
This movie is titled "China Doll" with Victor Mature.
cacritic28 3 years ago