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Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Such a frustrating disappointment

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Set in post-WWII Hong Kong at the time of the Chinese Communist Revolution which saw a massive influx of refugees to HK, while this lavish Hollywood movie attempts to make some points about cultural differences, casual racism, attitudes to women and class snobbery, in truth it's really just a big old-fashioned weepie centring on the relationship between separated American warcorrespondent William Holden and recently widowed, talented and sensitive Eurasian hospital doctor Jennifer Jones. Evocatively filmed in and around Hong Kong, it's a pity the movie is so clunky in parts. Perhaps because she doesn't really look Eurasian (her somewhat bitchy fellow-Eurasian girlfriend even less so), Jones seems to have announce the fact every ten minutes it seems, that's when she's not making sappy speeches about her inner conflict and Confucius-like philosophical pronouncements. I doubt very much she'd have been cast in the part today with the recent controversy about actors taking on ethnic roles over native-born candidates. Holden doesn't get much to do other than to act as her lapdog, hanging on her every word. Even at the beach scene with just the two of them you'd have thought, post "From Here To Eternity", that there might have been a spark of passion between them but no, they simply get into their swimming costumes and swim across to Jones' friends across the bay. In short, I didn't get much sense of their many-splendoured love at all even with the famous song trilling about everywhere before it really lets rip with the full angelic chorus of it in the final scene as Jones returns one last time to their favourite romantic spot above the hill.Certainly beautifully shot, in truth the story is shallow and cliched so that I find I remember more the scenery of the film and that darn song rather than the narrative or characterisation on show.

The central theme of this film (based on a true story) is that true love is strong enough to overcome all obstacles. The obstacle in this case is prejudice against those from other cultures. William Holden and Jennifer Jones play the American man and the Eurasian woman who meet in Hong Kong and find love despite the taboos they dare to challenge.The primary problem with this premise is that Jones, by appearance, is not convincingly and consistently Eurasian. She overcomes some of this by her manner and speech.As a fan of Holden, I cannot ignore a comparison with "Picnic", also released in 1955.In both films, Holden is the outsider--a rebellious figure viewed with suspicion, a flaunter of community standards. But in "Picnic", Holden's character must struggle to overcome his own doubts, making the struggle more meaningful and central to his character's development.In both films, there is a musical theme that is strong. In "Picnic", the theme is better used, an actual part of the action that links the two lovers together (through dance).In "Picnic", the love scenes are electric, charged with passion and a hunger for what might be called salvation. In "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing", the kisses are sometimes passionate, sometimes lukewarm, perhaps due to the emotional distance between the two stars, well documented.Though the love story in "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" can feel subordinate to the larger story of cultural differences, which is undeniably interesting, in "Picnic" the love story is what every element revolves around.

I am a fan of William Holden and this starring film at this time should have been better. Despite all the great scenery in Hong Kong, the script lets this one down. No wonder the theme song is much more famous than the film.Holden is a journalist and he meets a Female Doctor who has been widowed. Holden's wife who we never meet does not want to let him go, even though she has not seen him in 6 years. Such is the confusion of this plot, and the Doctor falls in love and carries a flame for this guy throughout. What is missing for everybody here is a back story.The ending is so predictable that I guessed it about the first 10 minutes. The scenery is the neat stuff here. The car Holden drives around is not the usual model. There is a CAT Vehicle at one point.Oh, if this really had a story, but it tries to wet 3 hankies without really drawing the viewer into anything except feeling how odd this relationship is. I got out the hankie when I realized how good this movie could have been, but it just does not get anywhere near where it should be.Sometimes the tree at the top of the hill needs to get cut down. I had the urge to rent a chain saw for the last scenes and say "enough already." The song Love is a Many Splendored Thing" is the only claim to long term fame this one has.

Some movies just stands up to the changes of time. This is one such movie. Why it never gets old is because it's a quality production, with good settings and story.I really love this movie, although the story is kind of simple, the situation is not. Jennifer Jones plays an Eurasian woman from Chung King, and William Holden a reporter from Singapore. Two people from a very different background meet in one of the most international city in the world - Hong Kong - where old Chinese culture and new capitalism meet. Now that would be confusing to anyone who's trying to sort out their relationship.The movie combines all these elements well, and exotic Hong Kong location adds to the beauty of the story. It's interesting to see Hong Kong in 1955, comparing it to Hong Kong of today. Some places looks similar like the Victoria Peak (although it has no high rise buildings), but Aberdeen was much less crowded.Music score is a real tear jerker.If you like romance, this is one of the best movie you can watch.