Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, nominated for Best Picture of 1955, is really a rather silly movie. It's a sentimental romance about two very unlikely lovers in Hong Kong. Now, I have nothing against sentiment or romance. Likewise, I'm not opposed to intercultural relationships in film; such pairings often make for very exciting movies. However, in this example, there seems to be so little point in having the characters be from different backgrounds. In fact, much of this film seems to be pointless.
The woman in this couple is played by Jennifer Jones. She's a widowed doctor working at a hospital in Hong Kong. She's incredibly talented and popular as a doctor, apparently, and rather ambitious. After the loss of her husband, she's decided to forgo romance and concentrate instead upon her profession. The man is played by William Holden. He's a married newspaper correspondent who keeps getting sent to exotic locations throughout Asia. He wants to divorce his wife, but she is unwilling to set him free.
You may be asking yourself at this point how these two very American performers somehow represent a cross-cultural romance. Here's the kicker: Jones is playing a Eurasian woman. Tough to believe, I know; even tougher to accept. The supporting cast of fellow doctors in the hospital and friends in Hong Kong and even family members in China is full of Asian or Asian American actors, yet Jones is meant to somehow represent the blending of two cultures, the Chinese and the English. I only point this out because it's supposed to be a significant plot point, their cultural differences. However, I just don't sense this is a point of tension between them. If Holden's character could just get a divorce from his wife, then he and Jones' doctor could be wed. What does being Eurasian or not Eurasian have to do with that? A few characters mention from time to time how much difficulty these two might face as a couple, but really, the main issue keeping them apart is not their different cultures, despite what any of the characters say.
The film was shot on location in Hong Kong, and the photography is really stunning. This is a gorgeous film, and you can't help but be dazzled at times by the scenery. However, you will have to endure the rather intrusive theme song, which pops up with alarming frequency when Jones and Holden are on screen together. It's almost as if the purpose of the movie is to get that song stuck in your head; maybe it was an early marketing gimmick, one of the first examples of synergy. I have to say that I'm not overly fond of the song myself, but I suppose it is at times used to good effect.
I wouldn't want to suggest that this film isn't enjoyable. As a rather traditional romance set in a beautiful location, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing has its creaky, old-fashioned charms. The leads are certainly appealing enough together even if Jones is miscast in her role here. I just can't see this film as being one of the best of 1955 or any other year. Undoubtedly, this is an example of the Academy saving a spot on its list for a huge moneymaker of a film. It doesn't stand out to me as particularly memorable or deserving of recognition for its overall quality.
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