Connie chan Po-chu: her movies

[stooges0]

my answer is in 'CAP'

[quote="jenb"] 1. Eternal Love - with Siao Fong Fong. Chan is Man Ping San. Wife is forced to leave the house and Chan comes back from war to find out she dies...excellent singing and acting

THIS MOVIE IS NICE BUT CONTAIN TONS OF MISSING MOVIE SCENE
A> BEGINNING CHAN MEET FONG FONG B> AFTER THE WAR THERE SUPPOSE TO SHOW CONNIE COMING HOME AND THE BACKGROUND HAS A FEMALE CHORUS SONG THAT IS MISSING C> IN THE MOVIE PING VISIT HIS WIFE THE SONG STARTS WITH TALKING PHRASES THAT SOUNDS LIKE RAP (TALKING) AFTER PING TALKS IT CUTS THE FONG FONG CONTINUE TALKING PART (RAP). D> PING RUN OUT OF THE WIFE'S FAMILY HOUSE THE MAID (KA YIN) FOLLOWS THE MAID TRY TO TELL PING WHERE HIS WIFE IS SHE STARTED TO TALK A FEW WORD AND THE REST ARE GONE. YOU CAN TELL BY THE LYRIC PRINTED ON THE SCREEN E> NOT MOVIE TITLE/CREDIT OR STAR NAME (THE CAST) THERE IS LITTLE BITS AND PIECES MISSING MOVIE SCEEN THROUGHOUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO PAY REAL CLOSE ATTENTION TO NOTICE IT OR RECOGNIZE THE SONG WELL TO RECOGNIZE THE MISSING PART.

[dleedlee]

Yes, the cuts in Eternal Love were disappointing. Nancy Sit Ka Yin's character barely survived as I recall. And the color is greatly faded. Pretty unusual, as Pearl City normally puts out good quality discs.

I picked up Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom based on jenb's earlier recommendation but I haven't gotten around to watching it yet.

[jenb]

Hi,

I got my copy too! I started to watch some of it, it is long so I can't sit there for 2 hrs 10 mins watching the whole thing. So I don't have a big review as yet. But I like the guy who was teaching Chan how to be a judge, he is really good..I remember seeing him in a TV series - with Damian Lau and Mi SHuet - it was excellent tv series about a grandfather who died for his country and wants his grandchildren to take revenge...Well Mi Shuet is the grand-daughter, Damian is the son of the prime minister who must be killed.

From the bits I saw, Chan has a strong voice but then Cantonese opera is her forte...I hate to say this, but she sings better as a guy than when she is a girl - it is like the lower voice is her natural voice. THe one who played Bak, I really don't care for her singing at least what I hear. The way she is potrayed...she is very spoiled and want her way and it seems it is what Yam needed in those days. I often wonder if they were a couple or not...Also, I agree with you, I think Tong Dik San had feelings for Bak and I think the wife knows too. I will let u know more how I feel about the show.

Ok, what is this movie that people are talking about seeing Chan in a cameo.

I got Purple Hairpin as well with Yam/Bak and the one with their students.
I also got Princess Cheung Ping as well - I remember watching these as a kid and I hated it because I have no clue what they are singing and the music was real loud...but now, I am starting to enjoy them, maybe just getting old.

Cheers,

Sue

[dleedlee]

I've been rewatching the show in brief pieces this past week and concentrating more on the individual performances: Yes, Yam's sifu has a great voice and the judge scene is excellent. The singing by Tang's character is good too. The first meeting between Yam and Pak where they sing together, aacck, painful. Have to agree with you also about Connie's singing, good point about the lower registers. I have to admit, also, that in her romance movies from the '60s, I don't care for her songs and singing much. Too slow and syrupy. Often times there will be someone else in a club scene that will sing a more 'rocking' pop song that I usually prefer over her love ballads. Back to the play, my perception of Pak certainly has changed due to watching it. I always thought of her as just a pretty face. It seems, based on the play, that she may have been the more dominant of the pair. jenb, by chance, have you picked up the Yam Kim Fai publication from the HKFA?

re: cameo, is referring to C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri. But I don't think it is Connie.

David, Connie's photo book shipped from yesasia today but it'll be sitting in the post office hold while I'm away next week.

[duriandave]

Ok, what is this movie that people are talking about seeing Chan in a cameo.

The movie is C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri, which is a 1993 (?) remake of the classic Lin Dai melodrama Love Without End. Anita Yuen stars as a young woman with leukemia who falls in love with Lau Ching Wan a not-so-successful musician. Anita's mom is played by Bobo Fung, who runs an opera troupe that performs at the Temple Street night market. Anyway, there is a scene in the film where the opera troupe is practicing. One of the women, seen very briefly, reminded me of Connie Chan. The voice singing also reminded me of her.

Anyway, Dennis thinks it's not her...but take another look, Dennis, once you've received the Connie Chan photo book and have seen the later pictures of her with glasses at the end of the book.

I'll do a screen capture too and post it in the next day or so. Anyway, I'm probably mistaken, but I can't quite shake the hunch.

[duriandave]

Okay...here are some screen caps. So, is the woman on the left with glasses Connie or not?

[dleedlee]

I watched the first 25 minutes of the film again last night and, still, I think no. Here's why: age and body shape. I think, not sure, that Connie is older than Fung Bo Bo [by six years, according to the HKFA listings]. And though the Woman in White doesn't get a close up, she seems younger than Petrina. Her body type seems more like, say, a Josephine Siao's then Connies. Connie, in her youth, had a more muscular...er, athletic build. Here, the WIW seems slimmer and trimmer. So unless, Connie had been taking those diet pills she advertises, the physique doesn't seem to fit her.

I slo-mo'd through the credits a few times, too, and couldn't find Connie's name anywhere either. And where'd the opening credits go?

[duriandave]

Perhaps you're right. Connie did have quite an athletic build. There are some swimsuit pics in the photobook. She had really strong arms and legs!

[jenb]

Hi everyone,

Ok, I watched more of the Sentimental Journey and the woman who plays Bak SHuet Seen,she really sings out of tune...and she literally destroyed the PrincessCheung Ping theme song. However, to give her credit, she did a good job acting but then I wonder if Bak was like that - spoiled little kid and become overbearing, in control person...that I do not know. Also,I wonder if Yam and Bak were, u know! because neither one of them ever got married.

I was looking at Chan now and she looks a lot thinner than she was when she was in the movies...do u think she was chubbier...like she had bigger hips and arms...because like when she was in one movie with the Four Sisters, she had on leotards and on the spider net...she look chubby there..

Wait, she is taking diet pills? Mmm could be..

Oh, the person who played the journalist and the eunuch is her son...I don't know how old he is...but I suspect he is 30 or something, because assuming she left in 1970, and got married and had a kid pretty right away, that would put him in that age bracket...he sure seems like a Mama's boy still living with her. Yes, of course, with the asians, they do that...but it seems now he wants to go into show business and is using his mother's name to climb the ladder. At the concert in 2003, he sang some songs and I was not impressed. He even try to imitate AndyLau in onesong he sang..I listen to both him and Andy...Andy, there is a reason why he is/was one of the 4 kings.

In as far as Connie is concerned, I love her, she is my idol and I am hoping more movies come out.

Ok, C'est La Vie, I saw that movie - it is the remake of LinDai's NeverEnding Love - and no, that was not Chan Bo Chu.

Yam Kim Fai publication from the HKFA? Where do you pick that up?

SUe

[jenb]

Of course, I have no idea if this is a joke or truth, but I read in the Chan Bo Chu website that Lady Killer was going to come out. Now, I only remember one Lady Killer movie but they said there were 4..but even with that, I don't remember the movie.

So if I see anything, will let u guys know

Sue

[dleedlee]

I've been away this past week, so I'm busy trying to catch up now!

The database lists The Flying Killer/空中女殺手 w/Connie and The Treacherous Lady Killer w/o Connie but with Tso Tat Wah and Yu So Chau. So they might two. Haven't found a possible fourth yet.

[dleedlee]

Here is a description of the HKFA publications.
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalServi ... html?39,29

In the past, I've bought through the HKIFF site since they also have publications worth obtaining:
http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/publications/details.html
It's tricky to use as far as ordering, they use a ticket/event selling agency as their vendor so another window pops up. Also mind that the shipping cost are high.

[jenb]

Thanks for the info on the pubs...was it pretty easy ordering from there. BTW, where is this archive place? Where in HK?

I sure hope they bring Lady Killer out...I only remember watching one and I was so hopeful that someday that women can be that independent. I guess back in the 60's and 70's growing up, Chinese women were still not regarded to hold high paying jobs...it is getting better though.

But of all her movies, I like the mo hup and opera genre...for some reason, she acts more assured of herself...In those modern romances, it is so syrupy and she makes herself so naive and innocent...and the guys who are her boyfriends, can't she do better?

Sue

[stooges0]

there is 4 episode of lady killer (nui shat shou)

1> you can see the record cover from connie 2003 concert in the beginning.
episode 1: record cover is light yellow background
episode 2: record cover is a yellow darker yellow background connie wearing a fireman hat
episode 3: record cover is blue / white I think connie is standing in front of a airplane
episode 4: record cover is black background

2> the record cover can also be seen at www.vinylparadise.com
click into cantonese songs, then click on connie name ...there is 3 page of record information there

[dleedlee]

A quick word because I'm trying to catch up at the office (hopeless, I know). The HKFA is in HK. David, here, was there recently this year and can give you additional details. (Maybe we need to organize a road trip!)

I think you're right about Connie's roles. Mo Hup and Opera are probably her strong suits. But I guess I am a sap and can still fall for the sugary sweet...Another sign of middle age, I guess (~ sigh~). I used to not like Lui Kei, but I guess he's grown on me.

Stooges0, thanks for the info. I will check it out tonight when I get home. I've been meaning to visit that site. I've seen it mentioned over at the HKVP site.

cheers, all.

[duriandave]

Hi everyone,

I've also just returned from a trip. (Hope you had a good time, Dennis!).

The English titles of the 4 Lady Killer films (all directed by Mok Hong-see) are:

Lady Bond (1966)
Return of Lady Bond (1966)
Flying Killer (1967)
Lady in Distress: The Invincible Fighter

I'm dying to see these as well. Hopefully, the rumor is true.

Sue, the HK Film Archive is on Hong Kong Island. Just take the MTR and get off at the Sai Wan Ho stop and walk for about five minutes. There are directions on their website. I highly recommend visiting the archive. In addition to their film programs, they also have a wonderful research center, where you can browse through books and magazines and watch films from their collection in private screening booths.

In those modern romances, it is so syrupy and she makes herself so naive and innocent...and the guys who are her boyfriends, can't she do better?

I've thought that too!

Dennis, did you get your pictorial book yet?

[dleedlee]

I've also just returned from a trip. (Hope you had a good time, Dennis!).

I told you I was leery of the whole thing but I had a great time. I taught my second cousins how to play mahjong and now they're hooked! My cousin, their dad, had to go out Sunday and get a mahjong set because they're going to have a mahjong marathon tomorrow afternoon with her schoolmates. Katie, the youngest, is like 11 or 12 years old.

On a movie related note, my mom dropped these nuggets on me last week:

I'm showing my mom the screen captures on my laptop that I make for the db here. My mom throw out a few names and says she doesn't recognize any of the new names, then she tells me that Cheng Mang Ha used to live across the street from her on Nathan Rd and she'd see her on the balcony all the time. This was in the late '40s just before she left and came to the US. Now you probably don't know her and I wouldn't either except that I have some captures of her from a couple of 1947 films I watched on vcd this past year. The really funny thing is when I made those captures of Cheng Mang Ha I thought to myself that she reminded me of my mom from photos I'd seen in her old photo albums. Then my mom tells me that her father had a friend that was always trying to get her and her sisters to come down to the film studio and enter the business, but her father wouldn't let them go. One other gem is that she says her younger sister, my late aunt, used to party around with Patrick Tse Yin! I could imagine it too. Auntie Norma had a little wild streak in her that I remember when I was little.


Cheng Mang Ha


The English titles of the 4 Lady Killer films (all directed by Mok Hong-see) are:

Mok Hong-See: I always seem to enjoy his films, so I'm really going to look forward these. Especially if Lady Bond is included.

I picked up my mail from the post office yesterday but I haven't opened up the book yet. I was saving it for a quiet moment to savor it.

[duriandave]

Glad you had a great time! And thanks for sharing your Mom's stories. Just think: in a parallel universe your mom was a movie star and Patrick Tse is your uncle!

[dleedlee]

Glad you had a great time! And thanks for sharing your Mom's stories. Just think: in a parallel universe your mom was a movie star and Patrick Tse is your uncle!

[duriandave]

Thanks stooges0 for the Vinyl Paradise link!

Here are direct links for the Connie Chan pages:

http://www.vinylparadise.com/4pop_can/1/013CBC0A.htm

http://www.vinylparadise.com/4pop_can/1/013CBC0B.htm

http://www.vinylparadise.com/4pop_can/1/013CBC0C.htm

[Rawle Austin aka Growler]

Hi Growler,

I've got reviews on this site for the following movies, all of which I recommend.

Black Rose
Spy With My Face
Lizard
I'll Get You One Day
Movie-Fan Princess
Girls Are Flowers
Dutiful Daughter

I will strongly second Dennis's recommendation for Black Killer, my favorite action film with Connie Chan. I also liked Dragon Fortress, not so much for Connie but for her co-star Suet Nei.

I hope you enjoy Connie's films as much as we do!

Thanks DurianDave, much appreciated. Been bogged down redesigning my site so haven't been around much.

Growler

[Rawle Austin aka Growler]

Gee, that's a good question. I'll throw a few out but it's hard to pick just a few.

Most Accessible (subbed), but it's Mandarin Connie:

The Lizard - Connie's last, for Shaw Brothers, subbed
This is Connie in her action mode.
For Better, For Worse - atypical, early film with Connie as a child, Connie's parents are breaking up, a Cathay reissue also subbed

Action Connie:
The Black Rose (box set) w/Spy With My Face, a quasi sequel
Both co-starring Nam Hung and Patrick Tse (Nic's father)
It's a classic and still spawning spinoffs.

Lady Black Cat Strikes Again - Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gai choreograph the action as they did for a number of Connie's films
Black Killer - excellent fight scenes, Connie goes undercover and infiltrates Sek Kin's gang, Connie plays two roles here

Marital Arts Connie:
Dragon Fortress - w/Kenneth Tsang, Suet Nei, Sek Kin, subbed
Remake of The Professionals, revenge, with a twist
Aftermath of a Fire I,II - w/Josephine Siao Fong Fong, Sek Kin
15 years ago, you killed my sifu, now I must get revenge
The pagoda of death, precursor to Game of Death?
Supreme Sword - Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gai actioned this one also
Connie seeks revenge for the death of her parents
Walter Tso Tat-Wah searches for his father
Includes a not so famous "Eat the Rice" scene.
Monkey King Storms the Sea Palace - Connie as Sun Wu Kong/Monkey

Musical / Romance Connie:
Teenage Love - paired with Lui Kei, Lydia Shum is always welcome in my book, here she poses as Connie's boyfriend. Connie pretends to be a Lui Kei's girlfriend to satsify his dying father's wish.

Her Tender Love - also directed by Lui Kei, terrific musical numbers, includes the Long Live Factory Girls song.

Glorious Christmas Night - Connie is discovered at a church musical, but learns the seamy side of the business

Teen Drama:
I Will Remember You Always - Connie and Nancy Sit are students by day, bar girls by night. The version sold as Girls Wander Around is subbed.

Hope this helps. Other fans here no doubt have other favorites that I've forgotten or omitted. I've skipped a whole other category, Connie's opera films, too.

Many thanks dleedlee I'll look out for these and check them out.

Much appreciated.

Growler

[dleedlee]

I Will Remember You Always - Connie and Nancy Sit are students by day, bar girls by night. The version sold as Girls Wander Around is subbed.

Okay, let's see if I can do this without screwing it up. Both the vcds titled as I Will Remember You Always and Girls Wander Around is Young Girls Dare Not Homeward (4/1970). The confusion is due to the alternate title for Young Girls Dare Not Homeward in Chinese being similar to 'I Will Remember You Always'. The real I Will Remember You Always (10/1970) is, so far as I know, not available on video. Thanks to David for unraveling this all and, hopefully, straightening me out.

[duriandave]

Glad to see the Connie thread resurface and hope that it will continue to have a long and prosperous life in the coming new year! And glad to be of help to you, Growler! And yes, Dennis, that's right about Young Girl Dares Not Homeward.

I was going to wait to do this but might as well do this now: I'm pleased to announce a new, and perhaps the first, English-language website devoted to Connie Chan. I'm still finishing up the final touches, but you can visit the splash page and bookmark it for future reference. The rest of the site will be up and running this coming Sunday. It will feature reviews and other goodies and will be updated twice a month with new material.

http://www.moviefanprincess.com/