Maps of Movies
55 Days at Peking (1963)
Where 55 Days at Peking says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
Siege of Peking, filmed in Spain: the whole imperial city was a set outside Madrid
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Scenes and places
Major Lewis arrives in Peking (1900)
Major Lewis arrives in China with a new detachment of US Marines. He is an old China hand who knows local conditions well.
Set in Peking (Beijing), 1900 — The Chinese capital in the summer of 1900, where the foreign legations are trapped. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Beijing, then called Peking, is the setting of the whole siege.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — The set built for the film stands in for the whole of Peking. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Legation Quarter (1900)
The legations of the industrialized powers are trapped, surrounded by Boxers who oppose their influence. Lewis has to hold a multinational quarter together.
Set in Legation Quarter, Peking — The district of foreign embassies that the Boxers besiege. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A walled enclave of embassies just south of the Forbidden City.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — Part of the same set, built to stand in for the Legation Quarter. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Marines' compound (1900)
Lewis leads a small contingent of 400 multinational soldiers and US Marines. The siege worsens around them.
Set in Defended compound (probably the US Legation) — The compound the Marines and soldiers hold during the siege.
The exact legation is not named in the plot summary.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — Part of the same set; which building was used is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The British Legation (1900)
As the siege worsens, Lewis forms an alliance with Sir Arthur Robertson, the senior officer at the British Legation. Together they wait for a British-led relief force.
Set in British Legation, Peking — The base of the senior British officer, Sir Arthur Robertson.
The British Legation was one of the compounds in the quarter.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — Part of the same set; which building was used is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The legation hospital (1900)
Baroness Natasha Ivanova volunteers at a hospital that is battered by the siege and running out of supplies. She trades her jeweled necklace for medicine and food.
Set in Legation hospital, Peking — The makeshift hospital inside the besieged compound.
A hospital improvised inside the compound.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — Part of the same set; which building was used is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Chinese arsenal (1900)
Lewis and Sir Arthur learn that the relief force has been repulsed. They set out on a mission to blow up a sizable Chinese arsenal.
Set in Chinese arsenal, Peking — A large Chinese weapons store that threatens the defenders.
The arsenal's position is not given in the plot summary.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — Part of the same set; which building was used is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Dowager Empress's throne room (1900)
Empress Dowager Cixi keeps plotting with the Boxers and supplies aid from her troops. She is shown alone in her throne room, gambling her empire.
Set in Forbidden City throne room — The imperial palace, seat of the Empress Dowager Cixi. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The palace of the Qing emperors for centuries.
Filmed at Forbidden City set, Las Matas, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — A full-scale Forbidden City was built on the set; the Spanish article describes it as built in papier-mache at real size. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The walls and streets of the city (1900)
The siege runs for 55 days, and the story closes on the streets and walls of the city.
Set in Peking city streets and walls — The streets and walls of the city once the relief force arrives. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Walls up to 20 metres high were built for the film.
Filmed at Las Matas film set, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain — The Spanish article says 20-metre walls were built on the set. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Characters
- Major Matt Lewis — US Marine major, an experienced China hand, who leads the defense of the compound.
- Baroness Natasha Ivanova — A Russian aristocrat who volunteers in the legation hospital.
- Sir Arthur Robertson — The senior officer at the British Legation.
- Empress Dowager Cixi — The ruler who backs the Boxers.