China Rose

"China Rose" is a made for TV movie starring George C. Scott. Now considering the location shoot and that Scott was a magnificent actor, I really expected more from this film. It wasn't terrible...but it also really wasn't good.

Burton (Scott) has come to China looking for information about his son's whereabouts. It seems he went to China over a decade before and has not been heard from since. However as he and his guide (Ali McGraw) travel in mainland China, the trail seems to lead back to Hong Kong. There, he keeps getting conflicting stories...that the son is dead as well as that he's alive! What is really going on here?!

With this plot, it was surprising that the film itself was just okay. You'd think organized crime and the rest of the story would have been pretty exciting. Additionally, the Scott-McGraw matchup didn't work for me...especially when, out of the blue, there was romance. Overall, an okay film with a downbeat ending...nothing more.

I will admit that I do not have an advanced degree in Drama or have I performed on stage, Shakespearian or otherwise, but the criticism that Ms. McGraw received in some of these reviews sounds a bit much. Is there a "Let's Get Ali" Club out there? As far as her acting ability I do not find her as objectionable as some and, in fact, I like her. If that makes me something of an amateur in theatrics, well so be it! The critical remarks made against her go too far I think and border on gross insult. Frankly there are a numerous so-called actresses today who cannot act as far as I am concerned but I am not going on a tirade against them. I just don't watch them. Many people go "ga ga ga ga and ga" over Meryl Streep and frankly I would not pay a dime to see her perform. So therein lies the issue, some of us like certain actresses and others don't and vice versa! Besides, I miss the Lana Turners, Greer Garsons, Betty Davisis, Susan Haywards, Joan Crawfords, and other fine actresses from the 1940s, 50s and 60s!

George C. Scott's character comes to Communist China to look for his long lost son. The US Embassy or Consulate assigns Rose (Ms. McGraw) who is studying in China, to be his guide and interpreter. Together, they set out looking for the son and have a dangerous time it. That sounds pretty banal but the acting is good and the chemistry between Ms. McGraw and Mr. Scott is palpable. And, from what I could tell, I think the locations were actually shot in China, not in a Hollywood lot. And the feeling of being a stranger in a strange land came across quite nicely. Everything considered, a superior movie

I thought "Any movie with George C. Scott has to have something on the ball...!" I was wrong.

This is the only movie that has moved me enough to want to write a review for IMDb.

There's not a single good performance in the movie. Scott's is best, clocking in at "not too bad" which is a gross disappointment for an actor of his caliber. Ali MacGraw is painful to watch. It goes downhill from there, one awkward scene with stilted dialog after another.

Where was the director? Busy having lunch during the whole shooting?

About the only positive reaction I have is the photography, giving a nice flavor of mainland China and Hong Kong.

I am so glad I didn't actually pay money to watch this.

I have a collection of really bad films which I include in a place called the Turkey Farm. You have to work very hard to get your film in this farm, as you are up against over 20,000 films that were ever made. This one qualifies for the farm easily. The movie stars George C Scott, who I am very sure, was embarrassed by this mess. Also in the film was Ali McGraw, one of the worst actresses in the history of film. All one has to do to confirm that diagnosis is to watch this turkey.

There was nothing Scott could do to save this TV movie (at least I hope it was a TV movie). Even James Hong could not save it.

This film has about as much to do with China and Hong Kong as the Minnesota Twins has to do with NFL. I will not make you suffer with the inane plot. Just suffice it to say it has about as much chemistry between Scott and McGraw as chocolate and vinegar have to each other. See something else.