The Real Story Of '55 Days At Peking' & The Boxer Rebellion

In 1900 the Foreign legations(embassies) in Peking (Beijing) were besieged for 55 days during the Boxer Rebellion.

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“55 Days at Peking” is the title of a 1963 Hollywood movie and is based upon a real historical event - the siege of the foreign diplomatic quarter in Peking (now Beijing) during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

The film starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and David Niven is a swash buckling period piece, but what are the real historical events and how close does the film come to them?

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:32 The Boxer Rebellion
3:03 Tipping Point
5:44 The Seymour Relief Expedition
8:28 Storming of the Taku Forts
10:35 Peking legations Besieged
12:35 Defence of Legations
13:50 Battle on the Tartar Wall
15:50 Seymour In Trouble
17:47 Major Attack
18:22 Cinese Divided
19:27 Eight Nation Alliance
21:28 Gaselee Relief Expedition
23:11 Seige Lifted
26:20 Atrocities
27:38 Postscript
28:51 55 Days At Peking

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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"

Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.

Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[longtabsigo]

One of my life lessons came from this movie. I don’t remember the exact words, however, when Charlton Heston’s character declared that when a man becomes a father, he is now responsible, for all children are his….or something close. I have striven to uphold that challenge as a man, a father, and a professional Army officer. This video is awesome, thank you for your excellent storytelling.

[karlsenula]

There was also a good Steve McQueen film about gun boat diplomacy - The Sand Pebbles.

[karlsenula]

Love those old time historical movies ... including this one, Khartoum, Zulu, the Four Feathers, the older Erol Flynn India films, the films based on the Horatio Hornblower book series . .. even the newer Sharpe TV series.

[falloutlover]

Yes.

This is the first I've heard of anyone talk about 55 Days at Peking, I quite like it myself. It's from that era of movies where even if they're not exactly documentary levels of accurate, they're at least rollicking fun. And of course that can spawn someone's interest in the real thing, 55 Days at Peking is actually what got me interested in the Boxer Rebellion.

[schizoidboy]

I find Herbert Hoover's background during the siege to be interesting. Many Presidents have or had military backgrounds serving in our military, whereas Hoover didn't have a military background he did take part as a civil engineer helping with the fortifications around the city, thus giving him some military experience despite never serving in America's military.

[ProtestantSamurai]

Since we are on the subject of The Boxer Rebellion, there were only two men who received the VC during the conflict Lewis Halliday of the Royal Marines and Basil Guy, midshipman. They both have awesome stories.

[billshepherd]

One of my favorite old school movies.
If you didn't fall in love with Ava Gardner, there was something wrong with you.😉

[paulw]

Great telling of the 55 day siege of the legations in Peking 😀
Though you omitted to mention the Australian involvement by George Ernest (Chinese) Morrison (“Morrison of Peking”)The Times Correspondent in Peking.
Wholes books have been written of Morrison’s exploits as Doctor, adventurer, Journalist and advisor to the Chinese government in his later years.

Morrison was a brave and engaged defender. He led groups of defenders to rescue Christians outside the walls and was wounded during the siege.

Morrison survived the siege (despite his employer The Times printing his obituary) and received, as did several other civilians, a Peking Siege Medal.

[majorronaldmandell]

One of my favorite parts of the movie “55 Days. . .” Is the part where the relief forces finally arrived, and the greetings exchanged when soldiers of the same nation among the defense and relief forces occur. What a contrast between the western forces and the Japanese forces in this regard!

[davidclarke]

Nice one Chris I would love to see you do a history of the 2nd Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment, my father, Sergeant Arthur Clarke served in that regiment from 1940 to1945, starting with "The First Advance to Bengazi, then Crete, Syria, the Western Desert and Burma before going to Germany as part of the occupation force.I always loved his description of the Bengazi Advance which he described as abren carrier and two 3ton trucks, " We pulled up outside Bengazi, a fortified Town surrounded by minefields, with concrete gun emplacements and while the officer was looking through his binoculars, the Italian flag was lowered, and the white flag raised"
The evacuation from Crete, "During the morning a message was received saying at nightfall take to the hills, every man for himself, later that day a further message was received, hold your positions, the navy is coming to take us out" 2 destroyers and a cruiser but don't know which they were, but do know the cruiser was hit by stukas and had to return to Crete where it was beached.

[charlesmaschi]

Thanks. Another outstanding video. I never would have guessed the historical link between the films, "The Sound of Music" and "55 Days in Peking." I always loved the film because of its storytelling as a high art, with it's star studded cast including John Ireland, Leo Genn, Flora Robson and Paul Lucas in supporting roles. Seeing films like this in my youth prompted me to learn the actual history of this incredible tale. Thanks again!

[beardedraven]

Dan Daly, one of the most legendary US Marines in the history of the Force earned his first Medal of Honor at the legation quarter.

He held his position overnight with a machine gun. He held through the night alone as his compatriots tried to get back to him. They were unable to return til morning. When they heard the gun go quiet in the night they thought Dan had died. When they arrived in the morning they found 200 dead boxers and Dan leaning against the defensive wall.

He ended up receiving another Medal of Honor during the invasion of Haiti. He should have gotten a third in WW1 but the paper pushers didn't like the idea of someone getting it 3 times. Ended up changing the rules to only allow it to be awarded once.

[cynthiaalver]

The book "The Boxer Rebellion" by Miranda Carter is a tremendous work. I started to describe why I think so but there's just so much to appreciate about this book! Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Boxer Rebellion.
Edit: I'm sorry I credited the wrong author. The correct author for this book is Diana Preston.

[jonmce]

My grandfather was stationed in India in 1900 and his regiment was moved to the east coast to board ship for China, but the emergency was ended and they went back to quarters. I met an older English lady at a company I were I worked whose uncle was in the taking of Peking and came home a lot richer than when he left, looting I'm sure.

[mendo]

"The hills are alive with the sound of the Boxer rebellion."😄

[brianivey]

Really enjoyed the movie when i was a kid, Heston and Niven were a good combo

[BootsontheTable]

I loved this film as a kid and it encouraged me to model the Boxer conflict in one of my gaming projects last year. I was always fascinated by the international composition of the coalition and especially by the Japanese involvement. Yes please to opium war videos - certainly not Britain’s finest hour, amongst many

[thevelvetskyandstars]

First rate as ever and another fascinating but neglected part of history. The Siege of Peking by Peter Fleming (Ian’s brother) got me throughly engaged with this. Now many more will be enthused by your excellent video.

[johnhaley]

My dad was a friend of Chuck as he liked to be called My dad was breaking horses for the movie The Savage when Dad was done with the string of horses. A man came over to him with a beer, and they to trailer and drank their beer with other actors 🎥🎥🎥

[davyaldy]

Absolutely yes! I recall being taught about it in Year 11 History - my father was my teacher that year - and we joked that when a store of opium was burned all the druggies gathered downwind to "watch."