Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), directed by Henry King.

After diffident consideration, a Eurasian doctor (Chinese and English parents) falls in love with an American reporter. They get a mild amount of static from both her family and European society in Hong Kong. Even if that were to work out, he's a war correspondent and we expect the story will turn weepy.

Famous at the time, it's pretty mild in retrospect. Jennifer Jones and William Holden are fine actors, but have little chemistry. (She wasn't getting on with anyone behind the scenes).

Adapted from an autobiographical novel. Some Hong Kong locations. Unusually for the time, apart from the Jones the Asian characters are actually played by Asian actors.

Like many early CinemaScope films there are few close-ups; the lenses just weren't ready yet.

Alfred Newman score, incorporating Sammy Fain's title song, still popular for weddings.

Twilight Time Blu-ray with a gang commentary track (not the usual crew) stressing the historical context, score, and technical details of the lighting and camera work.