The film is set during the 1900 uprising, in which Chinese nationals sought to drive out foreigners whom they believed were undermining the country’s independence. The Empress Dowager Tz’u-hsi (played by Flora Robson) and her chief adviser, Prince Tuan (Robert Helpmann), are the main instigators of the Boxers - members of a secret society known as the Yihequan - who lead the fighting.

• 55 Days At Peking
• Charlton Heston
• Ava Gardner
• David Niven
• Nicholas Ray
• Guy Green