55 Days at Peking
Diplomats, soldiers, and other representatives of a dozen nations fend off the siege of the International Compound in Peking during the 1899 to 1901 Boxer Rebellion. The disparate interests unite for survival, despite competing factions, overwhelming odds, delayed relief, and tacit support of the Boxers by Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi (Dame Flora Robson) and her Generals.
The film underperformed commercially against its respectable budget of $17.0M, earning $10.0M globally (-41% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its distinctive approach within the action genre.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
55 Days at Peking (1963) exemplifies deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Nicholas Ray's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Major Matt Lewis
Baroness Natalie Ivanoff
Sir Arthur Robertson
Prince Tuan
Empress Dowager Tzu-Hsi
Sergeant Harry
Captain Andy Marshall
Main Cast & Characters
Major Matt Lewis
Played by Charlton Heston
American Marine commander who leads the defense of the foreign legations during the Boxer Rebellion siege.
Baroness Natalie Ivanoff
Played by Ava Gardner
Russian baroness who becomes romantically involved with Major Lewis while trapped in the besieged compound.
Sir Arthur Robertson
Played by David Niven
British ambassador who attempts diplomacy while managing the international crisis during the siege.
Prince Tuan
Played by Robert Helpmann
Conservative Chinese prince who supports the Boxer movement and opposes foreign presence in China.
Empress Dowager Tzu-Hsi
Played by Flora Robson
Ruler of China who holds ultimate authority and must decide between the Boxers and the foreign powers.
Sergeant Harry
Played by Harry Andrews
Cynical British NCO who serves under Sir Arthur and provides ground-level perspective on the siege.
Captain Andy Marshall
Played by John Ireland
American officer who serves as Major Lewis's second-in-command during the defense.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Peking 1900: The foreign legations exist in uneasy coexistence with Chinese imperial authority. Major Matt Lewis arrives to command the U.S. Marine guard detail in this fragile diplomatic bubble.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 18 minutes when The Boxers murder a German diplomat and the Imperial Chinese government fails to condemn the act. The fragile diplomatic order collapses as the Boxer movement gains imperial backing, making war inevitable.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 39 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The Boxers launch their first major attack on the legation quarter. The diplomats and civilians choose to remain and defend rather than flee. The siege of 55 days begins—they are committed to survival behind the barricades., moving from reaction to action.
At 77 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat A massive Boxer assault nearly breaches the defenses. Casualties mount catastrophically. The defenders realize they cannot hold indefinitely—the relief column must arrive soon or they will be overrun. False hope turns to grim reality., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 116 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A devastating attack kills key defenders, including beloved characters who have embodied the cooperative spirit. The walls are breached. Ammunition is nearly exhausted. All seems lost—the whiff of death is literal as massacre appears imminent., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 123 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Distant cannon fire—the relief column has arrived. With renewed hope and their last reserves of strength, the defenders mount a final coordinated defense, buying time for rescue. Unity forged in crisis enables survival., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
55 Days at Peking's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping 55 Days at Peking against these established plot points, we can identify how Nicholas Ray utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish 55 Days at Peking within the action genre.
Nicholas Ray's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Nicholas Ray films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. 55 Days at Peking represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nicholas Ray filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Nicholas Ray analyses, see King of Kings, Rebel Without a Cause.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Peking 1900: The foreign legations exist in uneasy coexistence with Chinese imperial authority. Major Matt Lewis arrives to command the U.S. Marine guard detail in this fragile diplomatic bubble.
Theme
Sir Arthur Robertson states the colonial dilemma: "We're here uninvited, and we wonder why they hate us." The theme explores whether cultural arrogance can yield to respect when survival demands unity.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the international community in Peking: the various national delegations, their rivalries, colonial attitudes, and the growing Boxer threat. Introduction of Baroness Natalie Ivanoff and her mixed-race daughter, revealing the human cost of East-West relations.
Disruption
The Boxers murder a German diplomat and the Imperial Chinese government fails to condemn the act. The fragile diplomatic order collapses as the Boxer movement gains imperial backing, making war inevitable.
Resistance
The foreign powers debate whether to evacuate or stay. British Minister Sir Arthur insists on maintaining presence while others fear massacre. Lewis and the military commanders prepare defenses while diplomats cling to protocol and hope.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The Boxers launch their first major attack on the legation quarter. The diplomats and civilians choose to remain and defend rather than flee. The siege of 55 days begins—they are committed to survival behind the barricades.
Mirror World
Lewis deepens his relationship with Baroness Ivanoff and her daughter. This subplot humanizes the cultural divide—she represents the possibility of genuine East-West understanding versus exploitation, embodying what could be lost or saved.
Premise
The siege itself—what we came to see. International forces cooperate under fire, defending walls, rationing supplies, treating wounded. Acts of heroism and sacrifice across national lines as the Boxers attack repeatedly. The promise of multicultural unity under pressure.
Midpoint
A massive Boxer assault nearly breaches the defenses. Casualties mount catastrophically. The defenders realize they cannot hold indefinitely—the relief column must arrive soon or they will be overrun. False hope turns to grim reality.
Opposition
Conditions deteriorate: ammunition runs low, food scarce, wounded overwhelming medical facilities. Internal conflicts resurface as national prejudices return under stress. The Boxers tighten the noose, and word of the relief column remains uncertain.
Collapse
A devastating attack kills key defenders, including beloved characters who have embodied the cooperative spirit. The walls are breached. Ammunition is nearly exhausted. All seems lost—the whiff of death is literal as massacre appears imminent.
Crisis
The survivors face their darkest hour. Lewis and the remaining leaders contemplate final desperate measures. The question hangs: will they be remembered as colonial oppressors who got what they deserved, or as humans who stood together?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Distant cannon fire—the relief column has arrived. With renewed hope and their last reserves of strength, the defenders mount a final coordinated defense, buying time for rescue. Unity forged in crisis enables survival.
Synthesis
The international relief force breaks through the Boxer lines. The siege is lifted after 55 days. The defenders, transformed by their ordeal, emerge from the ruins. The coalition holds as they secure the legation quarter and restore order.
Transformation
Lewis stands amid the devastation with the Baroness and her daughter, representing a personal bridge between cultures. The victory is bittersweet—they survived, but the colonial arrogance that caused the conflict remains largely unchanged. A quiet moment of awareness, not triumph.