Shaw Sensations: 5 Classics at LA Film Fest (Mobius)

Title: Shaw Sensations: 5 Classics at LA Film Fest

William D'Annucci - May 8, 2008 05:17 AM (GMT)

I figured Shaw Bros fans out in LA would dig this info. Info at this link, scroll down for this list:

QUOTE

Shaw Sensations
Co-presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive

The Boxer of Shantung (Ma Yongzhen) – China
In one of the signature “heroic bloodshed” films by the “Godfather of Kungfu” Zhang Che, a young hick muscles his way to the top of the Shanghai underworld in the 1930s.
DIRECTORS Zhang Che (Chang Cheh), Bao Xueli WRITERS Ni Kuang, Zhang Che PRODUCER Runme Shaw CAST Chen Guantai, Jing Li, David Jiang, Ma Lannu

Eight Diagram Pole Fighter – China
The masterminds of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin—director Lau Kar-leung and actor Gordon Liu—reteam for a gripping account of a Song Dynasty hero who perfects Shaolin pole-fighting to right injustice.
DIRECTOR Lau Kar-leung (Liu Jialiang) WRITERS Lau Kar-leung, Ni Kuang PRODUCER Mona Fong CAST Gordon Liu Jiahui, Alexander Fu Sheng, Li Lili, Kara Hui Yinghong

Hong Kong Nocturne (Xiang Jiang Hua Yue Ye) – China
It's Viva Hong Kong as Zheng Peipei headlines a triple threat of up-and-coming Shaw starlets. This effervescent backstage musical follows three sisters who find different paths to happiness on- and off-stage.
DIRECTOR Umetsugu Inoue PRODUCER Run Run Shaw CAST Zheng Peipei, He Lily (Lily Ho), Qin Ping, Peter Chen Ho

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (Ai Nu) – China
In this martial arts murder mystery, a sword-fighting prostitute plots revenge against the lesbian brothel madam who's also her lover and the lecherous men who deflowered her.
DIRECTORChu Yuan WRITER Qiu Gangjian PRODUCER Runme Shaw CAST He Lili (Lily Ho), Yue Hua, Betty Bei Di, Dong Lin

The Singing Thief (Da Dao Ge Wang) – China
A cat thief–turned–cabaret singer comes under suspicion for a new spate of copycat crimes in which the burglar leaves behind a red carnation as a calling card.
DIRECTOR Zhang Che WRITER Qiu Gangjian PRODUCER Run Run Shaw CAST He Lily (Lily Ho), Jimmy Lin Chong, Lo Lie, Essie Lin Jia

The Festival runs June 19th to 29th.

Brian Camp - May 8, 2008 03:14 PM (GMT)

BOXER and 8-DIAGRAM are absolute musts, two of the best Shaw Bros. movies ever.
INTIMATE CONFESSIONS is a favorite of some and would probably look great on the big screen.
HK NOCTURNE is an odd one, dependent on how much you want to see the HK stylistic equivalent of a 1960s Elvis musical on the big screen. I would, because it's got Cheng Pei Pei and Lily Ho in it, but you have to REALLY be interested in early Shaw to want to see it.

THE SINGING THIEF is a bad one, but the audience might laugh a lot, which could make it more fun than it actually is.

And why is the L.A. Film Festival using those spellings for some of the stars/directors? Do they genuinely not want people attending who might actually know who Chen Kuan Tai, Ching Li, David Chiang and Chang Cheh are? And who is Ma Lannu?

Yi Lee - May 8, 2008 08:23 PM (GMT)

Hello,

Just two observations. First, I too find the rendering of names odd. I suppose the preponderance of pinyin has forced the copy editor to use it over better known transcriptions schemes but I take issue with the seemingly random way the idea has been implemented. Why would someone write "Lau Kar-leung" and then refer to his (adopted) brother as Gordon Liu Jiahui (instead of say, the Brothers Lau or the Brothers Liu)? Why is Lo Lieh referred to as "Lo Lie" rather than Luo Lie essentially mixing up the two schemes? Why have "Run Me Shaw" and "Mona Fong" (Mme. Run Run Shaw) written in non-pinyin form while switching over Chang Cheh, Chor Yuen, David Chiang, Cheng Pei-pei, etc.? Brian brings up a good point in his last observation. There doesn't seem to be a method to the madness.

Second, on to "Boxer from Shantung," I would venture that Ma Lannu a phonetic transcription of Mario "Milano." Say it slowly and you'll see what I mean. Since it's become customary to refer to the IMDB to check facts nowadays, I wonder why the festival intern didn't bother to check something like, say, the Chinese IMDB to get his or her facts straight. See:

http://www.imdb.cn/title/tt0068310

Speaking of which, is John Woo no longer famous in the West? He was one of the assistant directors on "Boxer" and I would think a nugget like that would be mentioned in the festival's PR given how many themes in Woo's own oeuvre can be prefigured by this one picture along with his working relationship with mentor Chang Cheh.

Terry Barhorst, Jr. - May 8, 2008 09:16 PM (GMT)

QUOTE (Brian Camp @ May 8 2008, 09:14 AM)

INTIMATE CONFESSIONS is a favorite of some and would probably look great on the big screen.

It does (saw it a couple of years ago on the big screen).

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