55 Days at Peking (1963)

David Niven: Sir Arthur Robertson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Maj. Matt Lewis : He's a good soldier when he knows what he's fighting for.

  Sir Arthur Robertson : It's easy when it's something you can see; a wall, a hill, a river, but how can you explain to them when it's for a principle.

  Maj. Matt Lewis : You can't. Not here in China, it's too far from home.

• Lady Sarah Robertson : [Unannounced, entering her husband's study]  I'm sorry, Arthur. Are you busy?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Of course I am. I *always* am.

  Lady Sarah Robertson : Busier than usual? Or just busy?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Both.

• Tommy : [Arguing with his sister about the family's pet dog, Ming]  Mother says we can't take Ming back to England with us.

  Sir Arthur Robertson's daughter : I *won't* leave my dog!

  Tommy : He's *my* dog!

  Sir Arthur Robertson's daughter : [indignant]  Who feeds him?

  Tommy : Who taught him to sit up? He's *mine*!

  Sir Arthur Robertson : I'll tell you what: we'll cut him exactly in two, and you'll each get half.

  Sir Arthur Robertson's daughter : Oh, father, don't play King Solomon.

  Sir Arthur Robertson : [chuckles]  I tried...

• Sir Arthur Robertson : Well, what's the pressing female problem?

  Lady Sarah Robertson : Just this: am I to pack or am I not to pack? Are going to England? Do we take our leave this year or not?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : I don't know.

  Lady Sarah Robertson : You don't know?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : So, why don't you just pack and then if we don't go, all you'll have to do is to unpack.

  Lady Sarah Robertson : If the men had to do the packing and unpacking, the world would be a very different place.

• Maj. Matt Lewis : What time is it?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Nine thirty-seven AM. August the fourteenth. Nineteen hundred.

  Maj. Matt Lewis : How many days did we hold out?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Fifty-five.

• Sir Arthur Robertson : [military bands playing]  Listen to them. They're all playing different tunes again.

  Maj. Matt Lewis : Well, for fifty-five days we've played the same tune. Fifty-five days. You held us together. You started something, at that. Maybe people will remember - someday.

• Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi : The boxer bandits will be dealt with, but the anger of the Chinese people cannot be quieted so easily. The Germans have seized Kiaochow, the Russians have seized Port Arthur, the French have obtained concessions in Yunnan, Kwan See and Kwantang. In all, 13 of the 18 provinces of China are under foreign control. Foreign warships occupy our harbours, foreign armies occupy our forts, foreign merchants administer our banks, foreign gods disturb the spirit of our ancestors. Is it surprising that our people are aroused?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Your Majesty if you permit me to observe, the violence of the Boxers will not redress the grievances of China.

  Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi : China is a prostrate cow, the powers are not content milking her, but must also butcher her.

  Sir Arthur Robertson : If China is a cow, Your Majesty, she is indeed a marvelous animal. She gives meat as well as milk, and yet grows stronger.

• Lady Sarah Robertson : Do you remember what Napoleon said about China?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : I never forget it: "Let China sleep. For when she awakens, the world will tremble."

  Lady Sarah Robertson : He did say an awful lot, didn't he?

• Sir Arthur Robertson : It's most unfortunate that a Chinese was killed.

  Maj. Matt Lewis : A Boxer?

  Sir Arthur Robertson : A Chinese citizen, Major! You're not in the Wild West now, you know. You don't go around shooting Chinese like you do red Indians!

• Sir Arthur Robertson : I believe, if we all stand united, that the Chinese won't dare mount a serious attack upon the representatives of the 11 great powers. And if we do all stand firm, we may preserve peace in China and, in deed, in the whole world.

• Lady Sarah Robertson : No! No, you can't have them.

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Sarah, we agreed. We need the books for the barricades. I thought you'd be the first to understand.

  Sir Arthur Robertson : Not the complete set of the Napoleonic Wars! Mother just sent them to you for your birthday.

  Sir Arthur Robertson : I have a confession to make. French history bores me.