Why Older Men and Younger Women Fall in Love: The World of Suzie Wong (1960)

In Richard Quine’s The World of Suzie Wong (1960), Robert Lomax (William Holden) falls in love with Suzie Wong (Nancy Kwan), a woman half his age. By examining their relationship, we can discover some of the reasons why older men and younger women fall in love. Older men are attracted to younger women because of their beauty, energy, and fertility, while younger women can be attracted to older men who are more mature than men their own age and have an established career.

Robert’s initial attraction to Suzie is because of her beauty and energy. He tells her that she is “the prettiest girl in Hong Kong”, and he “thought so from the first moment” he saw her. Her life energy is seen when they take a boat ride, and she whispers in his ear, making him laugh. Suzie is a fountain of youth to Robert.

Not only is Suzie young and beautiful, a woman “not even twenty,” but she has sexual power over men. When she dances, and swerves her hips, Robert is spellbound. Kay O’Neill (Sylvia Syms), who Robert is attracted to, she does not have Suzie’s vibrant sexuality.

As a model, Suzie becomes a muse for Robert’s art. Art is an outward expression of a person’s inner being, and Suzie, who inspires Robert’s paintings, touches the inmost part of his being. Her beauty impacts him on two levels: awakening love in his heart and releasing his abilities as an artist. After Kay sells a portrait of Suzie in London, Robert tells Suzie: “You’re going to make me famous.” Robert is drawn to her because she can help fulfill his dream of becoming an artist.

Robert wants to rescue Suzie from her life of prostitution, and, in rescuing her, this strengthens his masculine identity. A man “pushing forty”, he is approaching a period of life when many men have a mid-life crisis. His job as an architect “never satisfied” him, and he “fell into a pattern.” To create a new life for himself, he moves to Hong Kong to pursue his dream. However, when he runs out of money, his dream—and a renewed identity along with it—collapses. Robert finds a new identity as a knight errant, rescuing a damsel in distress.

Suzie is attracted to Robert because of his goodness and maturity. She wants a “good man with [a] big heart.” As a prostitute, she sells her body to sailors who are physically and verbally abusive. He tells her: “an artist always tries to look deeper.” He sees something “deeper” in Suzie and treats her with dignity and respect.

Suzie’s relationship with Robert strengthens her self-worth. As a prostitute, she suffers from low self-esteem, creating a false history that she is the daughter of a rich man, often telling Robert: “I am not [a] dirty street girl.” These are all attempts to protect her fragile self-image. With Robert, she feels loved and accepted despite being a prostitute.

Suzie is also drawn to Robert because he can financially provide for her. As an architect, he has greater earning potential than most young men in Hong Kong. Robert cannot provide an income for Suzie as an artist, but he has a career as a draftsman that he can return to. Suzie is unable to read or write, has no work experience, and when her beauty fades, her ability to earn money as a prostitute will be gone. If she wants to have another child, Robert can give her long-term financial security.

Love is a mystery that can never be fully understood or explained, yet there are reasons why older men and younger women are attracted to each other. The beauty and energy of a younger woman can make an older man feel young again, and if he wants to become a father, then marrying a woman his own age may be no longer be an option. Women today may not want a man to provide for them, but they are often reluctant to marry a man they will have to financially provide for. If a young woman has had negative experiences with men her own age, she can be swept off her feet by an older man who is successful, mature, and above all, treats her like gold.