China Doll (1958)

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Kitty Buhler (screenplay)
James Benson Nablo (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 December 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War | Romance

Plot:

American pilot Cliff Brandon, fighting the Japanese in China, finds himself the unintentional "owner" of a Chinese housekeeper, Shu-Jen. The unlikely couple falls in love and marries, but not without tragedy brought on by the war.

Plot Keywords:

China | Captain | Air Force | Pilot | Pregnant Wife

Cast

Victor Mature	...	Capt. Cliff Brandon
Li Hua Li	...	Shu-Jen
Ward Bond	...	Father Cairns
Bob Mathias	...	Capt. Phil Gates
Johnny Desmond	...	Sgt. Steve Hill
Stuart Whitman	...	Lt. Dan O'Neill
Elaine Devry	...	Alice Nichols (as Elaine Curtis)
Ann McCrea	...	Mona Perkins
Danny Chang	...	Ellington
Denver Pyle	...	Col. Wiley
Don 'Red' Barry	...	MSgt. Hal Foster (as Donald Barry)
Tige Andrews	...	Cpl. Carlo Menotti
Steve Mitchell	...	Dave Reisner
Ken Perry	...	Sgt. Ernie Fleming
Ann Paige	...	Sally
Gregg Barton	...	Airman
Barry O'Hara
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tita Aragon	...	Shiao-Mee Brandon (uncredited)
Bill White Jr.	...	Forsyth - Flying Tiger (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Borzage

Writing credits
Kitty Buhler		(screenplay)
James Benson Nablo		(story) and
Thomas F. Kelly		(story)

Produced by
Frank Borzage	....	producer
Robert E. Morrison	....	associate producer
Victor Mature	....	producer (uncredited)
John Wayne	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Henry Vars

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Murray

Art Direction by
Howard Richmond

Set Decoration by
Jack Mills

Makeup Department
Layne Britton	....	makeup supervisor
Lillian Ugrin	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Gordon B. Forbes	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lew Borzage	....	assistant director

Art Department
Richard Siegel	....	property master

Sound Department
Earl Crain Sr.	....	sound

Special Effects by
Dave Koehler	....	special effects (as David Koehler)

Stunts
Fred Carson	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Fred Carson	....	stunt double: Victor Mature (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Angela Alexander	....	costumer
Wesley Jeffries	....	costumer

Music Department
Henry Vars	....	conductor

Other crew
Dale E. Bell	....	technical advisor (as Lt. Col. Dale E. Bell)
Catalina Lawrence	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Batjac Productions
• Romina Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1958) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"Frank Borzage's China Doll" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #18803)

Company:

Batjac Productions

Soundtrack:

Suppose

Dolls Can Be Fragile

After a decade's absence from the big screen director Frank Borzage did a few films toward the end of his life, the first being a tender love story set in Western China during World War II. Although you would hardly call Victor Mature's character an innocent like most of Borzage's protagonists, the female lead, Chinese actress Li Hua Li more than makes up for it in her character.

Mature is a transport pilot in the China-Burma-India theater and during a night on the town he wakes up finds out he's bought himself a Chinese concubine from her father. On a three month trial basis and Li Hua Li goes with him. Naturally this arrangement doesn't please all at the base with their western views on morality especially the women nurses. But Mature finds a surprising ally in Father Ward Bond who runs an orphanage and has spent decades in China and knows the customs well. In fact the main scene of the film is Bond presiding over a Chinese style wedding when the two realize they're in love. Of course the fact that a little one is on the way does speed everyone's plans up.

China Doll despite its themes of miscegenation is really a rather old fashioned film. Films like Sayonara and Love Is A Many Splendored Thing really tackled the whole issue far better. And I found the ending completely ridiculous especially if Mature's first concern was the safety of his infant daughter.

Vic and Li Hua Li are a touching pair of lovers though and the wartime combat scenes are expertly handled. Fans of Mature and of Ms. Li who is a big name in the Chinese cinema might like this though.