A Countess From Hong Kong

I recently bought the film "A Countess from Hong Kong" that was the last film directed by Charlie Chaplin. Even though I am an admirer of Charlie Chaplin's acting and directing talents, an admirer of Marlon Brando's acting achievements especially in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On The Waterfront," and an ardent admirer of Sophia Loren's voluptuous beauty that is equally matched by her acting ability, I was discouraged from buying this DVD by the movie reviewers who declared that Charlie Chaplin's last movie was a flop. Luckily, I was encouraged to buy this DVD on the basis of the previous three perceptive reviewers of this movie. As they note both Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando live up in "A Countess in Hong Kong" to their lifelong ability to create three-dimensional characters who have both a dramatic and comic awareness of the situation that they are in. There is a definite chemistry between Marlon Brando's and Sophia Loren's characters in this movie. It is entirely believable that the two would fall in love with each other given each of their character's circumstances. Marlon's character is trapped by a loveless marriage, by his inheritance of his father's wealth as a Texas oil tycoon, and by his attempt to have a political role to play in the U. S. Government even though his political posturing is expressed by empty, uninspired rhetoric and lacks sincere personal conviction. He is truly trapped by his marriage, his wealth that he inherited but had no role in making, and his unfulfilling political ambitions. Marlon's character becomes increasingly moved by Sophia's character's seemingly hopeless predicament of trying to flee from her life of prostitution in Hong Kong by stowing away in Marlon's character's suite on board the ship that is travelling to Hawaii. Because she is traveling without a passport and is a stowaway on the ship, her desperate plight brings out Marlon Brando's compassion for her past, present, and future circumstances so that love very convincingly blossoms between them. Marlon's character's desire to help Sophia's character becomes the evidence of his deep love for her. At last he is able to achieve a worthwhile and a unique goal in his life that consists in his making his life and Sophia's character's life more happy. He tries to use his wealth and political connections to help achieve her desire to start a new life in America. This movie is certainly not a light frothy comedy; there are humorous physical moments especially when the two main characters continuously run about the rooms in the cabin suite to hide from either ship officials, aides, and servants in the bedroom, bathroom, and sitting rooms as well as cleverly written verbal humor and verbal sparring that is written by Charlie Chaplin for the two main characters, but there is a dramatic core to this movie consisting in Sophia's character's and Marlon's character's mutual desire to make each other lives more truthful and more fulfilling. In the numerous close-ups of Sophia's character's face, the viewer is entranced by her warm and passionate eyes and luscious lips that are convincingly at different moments in the movie able to react to Brando's character's initial selfishness and his later compassionate generosities to her. As romantic partners Marlon Brando's broad-shouldered 5 foot 9 inch or five foot ten inch build is a perfect match for Sophia's similarly curvaceous and statuesque 5 foot 7 inch built. Add two or three inches to the high heels that Sophia's character wears and both actors are able to look directly into each other's eyes.Having read David Lean's biography, I recollect the author telling us that Sophia Loren encouraged her husband Carlo Ponti to produce David Lean's movie "Dr. Zhivago" (released in 1965) in the hope that she could play the part of the Russian woman Lara, but that David Lean insisted upon Julie Christie appearing in this role. Therefore, it is interesting that Sophia when "A Countess in Hong Kong" was released in 1966 played a Russian woman who was forced to flee from Russia to find a political refuge in Hong Kong in the furor created both by the aftermath of the Communist Revolution and by World War II. She seems to have applied the passion that would have gone into her portrayal of Lara's character into that of her character in "A Countess from Hong Kong."Also it is interesting that Sophia Loren who emphasized the importance of discretion if a married woman was to have an affair years later in one of her television interviews is echoed by Marlon Brando's character's statement in the movie "A Countess in Hong Kong" when he also emphasizes the importance of discretion when pursuing an extramarital affair. Yes, I definitely believe that there was great sexual chemistry both in character and out of character when making "A Countess in Hong Kong." These two heavyweight actors doing both their physical and verbal sparring on screen keep the viewer's attention throughout the movie. This movie should be regarded as Charlie Chaplin's final motion picture triumph since the serious and comic sides of his characters in "A Countess from Hong Kong" are as emotionally compelling as Charlie Chaplin's relationship with the blind girl who eventually recovers her sight due to Chaplin's character's help in "City Lights" and the romantic relationship between Charlie Chaplin's character and Paulette Goddard's character in "Modern Times." The three romantic relationships between a man and a woman in "City Lights" and "Modern Times" and "A Countess in Hong Kong" have all in common the desire of the male and female protagonists to help one another in a world that can often be too tough, too cruel, and worse yet too indifferent.

A COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG was director/comedian Charlie Chaplin's final film. In this film he is the director, writer and composer.The story concerns a beguiling Russian countess named Natascha (Sophia Loren - HOUSEBOAT), a young woman forced into prostitution in Hong Kong, when she happens to meet an American politician named Ogden Mears (Marlon Brando - A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, SUPERMAN). She stows away in his stateroom aboard a ship headed back to the States, where she belives she can escape her miserable life.The usual battle-of-the-sexes ensues, when Natascha and Ogden are forced to spend the entire voyage together, bickering and fighting over their different opinions and tastes. But its soon evident that they are in love. Things become complicated when Ogden's icy wife (Tippi Hedren - THE BIRDS, MARNIE) joins the ship at Hawaii, while Natascha finds herself marrying Ogden's valet in order to gain an American passport!This is a film that feels a little old-fashioned for the 1960s, but it is a rather charming and engaging romantic comedy. Perhaps the film is best-known for launching the hit single "(Love) This is My Song", made famous by Petula Clark. The movie also stars Sydney Chaplin, Patrick Cargill and Margaret Rutherford in a rather-clever cameo.The DVD includes the trailer. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).This DVD is part of a new series of classic releases from Universal that also include "Pillow Talk", "Send Me No Flowers", "The Thrill of It All!" and a twofer of "Man's Favorite Sport?/Strange Bedfellows".

Light hearted fun and comedy abound in this tale of Natascha, a White Russian "Countess" played by the beautiful Sophia Loren, who stows away in the cabin of a very, very rich American diplomat, Ogden Mears, played by Marlon Brando on a luxury sea voyage from Hong Kong! Natascha wishes to make a new life for herself in America and is discovered in his cabin in very short order. She is gorgeous, determined and broke! He is shocked, put out and frightened of discovery by the press and, eventually, his wife Martha, played by Tippi Hedren, who is to join the voyage in Hawaii! Misunderstandings and complications arise to such an extent that Natascha finds herself being asked to marry Ogden's valet, Hudson, before she is discovered by Martha! The problem is that Ogden Mears has fallen in love with Natascha through all of the subterfuge! Enjoy this romp on the high seas. Charlie Chaplin and his brother, Sydney, both appear in the film in cameo. Charlie Chaplin wrote the screenplay and directed the film. He also penned the words and music to, "(Love) This Is My Song," eventually recorded by Petula Clark but used in the film in its instrumental version only.

Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando in a fun sexy romp on the high seas. Marlon seemed to be playing 2 roles, one was the staunch rich diplomat which he did very well and the mushy funny guy which in the very beginning with all the hiding in the cabin was very funny. Sophia pouts and also has a great deal of fun the rough seas and cigar scene is terrific. Sophia is an expatriate Russian Countess who flees to Hong Kong and is little more than a dance hall girl, she meets Marlon and his group and stows away in his cabin to run to the U.S. Lots of fun and the support cast is magnificent. I don't understand why this movie is getting such a bum rap? It is well acted and has some good laughs and good acting.

First off; I'm old. That means I actually know who these actors are and appreciate their range of skills presented in this comedy. The production was beautiful (good source material) and the story moved along to the suggested conclusion (romantic comedy - what more would you expect?).For those fond of that genre, this is a good example to include in your library.

Comical farce. Lots of running in and out of rooms. One or two errors like the lovely Miss Loren appeared morning noon and night fully made up even though she was supposed to be a stowaway without even a handbag. Her one pair of red shoes changed back and forth from heels to pumps, depending on who she was in a scene with. The film was amusing. Pity it didn't have subtitles as Brando is renowned for mumbling. The whole film was like how many Chaplins can you spot? With Charlie playing a cameo role of ships steward, his son as Harvey, his daughter Geraldine as a dancer in the ballroom plus two young girls who are either his real life daughters or grandchildren.

I like this etam very much. Fine acting, god story.

"What a waste of such talent"

one of my husband's favourite actresses so we have been collecting her films. This one is one of our favourites

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