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55 Days at Peking

  • 1963
  • Approved
  • 2h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
Charlton Heston, David Niven, and Ava Gardner in 55 Days at Peking (1963)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer3:10
1 Video
99+ Photos
EpicHistorical EpicActionAdventureDramaHistoryWar

During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China, a US marine and a British consul develop a plan to keep the rebels at bay until an international military relief force can arrive.During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China, a US marine and a British consul develop a plan to keep the rebels at bay until an international military relief force can arrive.During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China, a US marine and a British consul develop a plan to keep the rebels at bay until an international military relief force can arrive.

  • Director
    • Nicholas Ray
  • Writers
    • Robert Hamer
    • Philip Yordan
    • Bernard Gordon
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Ava Gardner
    • David Niven
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    8.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nicholas Ray
    • Writers
      • Robert Hamer
      • Philip Yordan
      • Bernard Gordon
    • Stars
      • Charlton Heston
      • Ava Gardner
      • David Niven
    • 79User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:10
    Official Trailer

    Photos119

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    Top Cast65

    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Maj. Matt Lewis
    Ava Gardner
    Ava Gardner
    • Baroness Natalie Ivanoff
    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Sir Arthur Robertson
    Flora Robson
    Flora Robson
    • Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi
    John Ireland
    John Ireland
    • Sgt. Harry
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Father de Bearn
    Leo Genn
    Leo Genn
    • Gen. Jung-Lu
    Robert Helpmann
    Robert Helpmann
    • Prince Tuan
    Kurt Kasznar
    Kurt Kasznar
    • Baron Sergei Ivanoff
    Philippe Leroy
    Philippe Leroy
    • Julliard
    Paul Lukas
    Paul Lukas
    • Dr. Steinfeldt
    Elizabeth Sellars
    Elizabeth Sellars
    • Lady Sarah Robertson
    Massimo Serato
    Massimo Serato
    • Garibaldi
    Jacques Sernas
    Jacques Sernas
    • Maj. Bobrinski
    Jerome Thor
    Jerome Thor
    • Capt. Andy Marshall
    Geoffrey Bayldon
    Geoffrey Bayldon
    • Smythe
    Joseph Fürst
    Joseph Fürst
    • Capt. Hanselman
    • (as Joseph Furst)
    Walter Gotell
    Walter Gotell
    • Capt. Hoffman
    • Director
      • Nicholas Ray
    • Writers
      • Robert Hamer
      • Philip Yordan
      • Bernard Gordon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews79

    6.78.3K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say '55 Days at Peking' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Charlton Heston's character, Major Matt Lewis, was loosely based on the real-life officer in charge of the Marine guard at the U.S. Legation, then Captain, later Lieutenant General, John Twiggs Myers U.S.M.C. (1871-1952). Myers was in the forefront of some of the toughest fighting in the besieged legations, wounded during the fighting on the Tartar Wall. Myers also later commanded the Marine Corps forces in Tangier during the Pedicaris Incident, and as such was portrayed as Captain Jerome by Steve Kanaly in The Wind and the Lion (1975).
    • Goofs
      At the beginning, the German band plays Deutschland Uber Alles, which was not adopted by Germany until after World War I. Germany at that time used the anthem Heil Dir Im Siegerkranz, whose tune is that of God Save The Queen, while Austria-Hungary used the Deutschland tune for its anthem, Gott Erhalte Franz Den Kaiser.
    • Quotes
      • German Ambassador: You have to admire Sir Arthur; he always manages to give the impression that God must be an Englishman.
    • Alternate versions
      To receive a 'U' certificate in the UK (making the film suitable for all ages) significant cuts were made by the BBFC. These included the scene of the priest being drowned by the water-wheel, a shortening of the screaming sounds made by the soldier before his leg amputation, and a removal of all references by Lewis to local women being made available for soldiers. To retain the same certificate all video releases also featured the same cut print. The 2014 DVD features the uncut version and is upgraded to a PG.
    • Connections
      Featured in I'm a Stranger Here Myself (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      So Little Time
      (The Peking Theme)

      Recorded by Andy Williams on CBS Records

      Words by Paul Francis Webster

      Music by Dimitri Tiomkin

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    FAQ4

    • In the relief force why do the soldiers in white uniforms and topis (Austrians?) carry no equipment or weapons?
    • Who are the Indian cavalry that are the first to lead the relief column at the end of the movie?
    • Joan Crawford---Was She Suppose to Star in "55 Days"?

    Details

    • Release date
      • May 6, 1963 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fifty Five Days at Peking
    • Filming locations
      • Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
    • Production company
      • Samuel Bronston Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 2h 34m(154 min)

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