AllMovie

Although China Doll is in most ways a fairly unexceptional little war melodrama cum romance, it may be of special interest to fans of director Frank Borzage. Casual viewers will find it sufficiently entertaining, even if much of its plot feels creaky and the manipulation of emotions is often forced. But the basic story ingredients are there to keep the viewer's attention, and those in the mood for an undemanding way to pass the time will find it to their liking. Those looking for a real social issue picture, which Doll also has some pretensions to, will be disappointed, for this is the kind of film that pays lip service to the issues without doing any true exploration of them. But as mentioned, Borzage fans will be the most receptive audience, scrutinizing it to see what this, his first film after a ten-year blacklist, can tell them. What it reveals is a sense of melancholy mixed with a resignation that comes from maturity rather than despair, and those sensitive to this will embrace Doll rather warmly. The director's skill is also plainly evident, particularly in the climactic battle scene, and he imbues the gentle coda with real emotion as well. He's hampered by the unexceptional performance of leading man Victor Mature but draws a nice performance from leading lady Li Lu Hua.