During the 60s, many members of cinema's directorial old guard tried their hand at massive historical epics. Anthony Mann directed three of the best examples of the genre with Cimarron (1960), El Cid (1961) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). David Lean revolutionized the epic film with the masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia (1962). And finally, we have Hollywood iconoclast Nicholas Ray who directed 55 Days at Peking, a historical reconstruction of the Siege of the International Legations during the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. Unfortunately, Ray collapsed halfway through and the film had to be completed by other directors. But enough of his influence shines through the finished result that it can safely be classified as a Nicholas Ray film. Key to his films was the idea of a stranger in a strange land; outsiders who try and penetrate established cultures and societies. In 55 Days at Peking, there are two groups of outsiders. First, there are the armed forces representing the International Legations fighting against the Chinese rebels. Second, within those armed forces is a detachment of American marines led by Maj. Matt Lewis (Charlton Heston) who look upon the colonization of China by foreign powers with thinly veiled disgust and cynicism. The historical legitimacy of these dynamics might be suspect, but they were mere plot fodder that helped Ray tell the kind of story that he wanted. 55 Days at Peking is epic film-making on a satisfyingly gigantic scale. The battle scenes are brutal and magnificent. The Chinese characters, while unfortunately heavily coded with traditional Hollywood stereotypes, are actually sympathetic in their plight to rid themselves of outsiders who want to suck the life-blood of their culture. 55 Days at Peking has all the markings of a classic: high drama, high stakes, high excitement, and high emotions.
9/10
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