Overview
A gripping tale of survival amidst chaos and conflict in a besieged city.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- grandiose
- melodramatic
- tense
- classic cinema night
- historical epic marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film's magnificent production design, cinematography, and large-scale spectacle while finding its stereotyped characters and melodramatic script comparatively weak.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Super Technirama 70 cinematography, the Forbidden City, exploding arsenals, and massed attacks make visual grandeur a defining feature.
Diplomats, soldiers, and representatives from multiple nations defend the International Compound during a prolonged siege.
The story foregrounds Western diplomats and soldiers confronting the Boxer Rebellion and the Qing court.
The film presents 1900 Peking through lavish depictions of the Forbidden City, imperial court, scarlet-turbaned Boxers, and ceremonial spectacle.
Films like 55 Days at Peking, and why
El Cid
large-scale historical war epic with lavish production design and charismatic leading performances
The Alamo
period siege drama combining international conflict, melodrama, and monumental visual spectacle
Khartoum
classic historical epic centered on military survival amid political upheaval and cultural conflict
Zulu
grand-scale colonial-era battle drama with ensemble heroism and spectacular set pieces
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicholas Ray
- Release Date
- 1963-05-06
- Runtime
- 154 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (192)
Cast
- Charlton Heston
- Ava Gardner
- David Niven
- Flora Robson
- John Ireland
- Harry Andrews
- Leo Genn
- Robert Helpmann
- Kurt Kasznar
- Philippe Leroy
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is 55 Days at Peking about?
- A lavish historical war epic follows an uneasy international coalition defending its Peking compound through the brutal Boxer Rebellion siege.
- What is 55 Days at Peking like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 55 Days at Peking as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is 55 Days at Peking violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in 55 Days at Peking as graphic.
- What did critics think of 55 Days at Peking?
- Critics broadly admired the film's magnificent production design, cinematography, and large-scale spectacle while finding its stereotyped characters and melodramatic script comparatively weak.
- Which films are like 55 Days at Peking?
- Films with a similar feel include El Cid, The Alamo, Khartoum, and Zulu.
- How long is 55 Days at Peking?
- 55 Days at Peking runs 154 minutes.
- Where can I watch 55 Days at Peking?
- In United States, 55 Days at Peking streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
