The Legend of Purple Hairpin

Feb 18, 1959

2h 15m

★ 0.0

Overview

An adaptation of Tong Tik-sang's now-legendary Cantonese Opera piece, the film features divas Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin (left with Yam), who play the story's lead lovers, and Lan Chi Pak, the sinister official who tries to break up the relationship. Leung Sing-po plays the pair's friend as well as the mysterious 'man in yellow' who exposes plans to separate the couple.

Genres

Music

Drama

Production Companies

Bo Ying

The Legend of Purple Hairpin Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Yi Li

Yam Kim-Fai

Huo

Pak Suet-Sin

Leung Sing Poh

Chan Lap-Ban

Pinmei Chen

Cheung Sang

Cheung Sing-Fei

Chu Siu-Boh

Fung Ming

Heung Hoi

Cibo Liang

So Siu-Tong

This is the first 16mm Cantonese film in full colour, shot on 1940s state-of-the-art Technicolor film stock. Opera star Man-ha (Leung Bik-yuk) enjoys tremendous popularity during her performances in San Francisco, but drowns herself in the vices and temptations of the big city. Increasingly, she fails to show up for performances, almost causing the theatre to go bankrupt. When she sees her lover for the scoundrel that he is, she also sees the errors of her own ways and saves the theatre, restoring it to glory. Joseph Sunn Jue established the Grandview Film Company in Hong Kong during the 1930s and continued making films in the USA during wartime by collaborating with Chinese opera performers in exile there. Wong Hok-sing, an opera actor himself, directed, wrote and starred in this film. He staged a spectacular play-within-a-play at the end, not only to promote the art of Cantonese opera but also to boost solidarity among overseas Chinese through difficult times.

8.2

The Stage

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During the Republican era, wars and conflicts were frequent. On stage, the "Overlord" sings with resounding passion, while below, the absurd spectacle of life unfolds. They must both secure the opera troupe's livelihood and appease the audience in their seats. Once the curtain rises, how should this play be performed?

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0.0

Iron-beaked Hen's Sudden Rise to Power

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0.0

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0.0

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0.0

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Invalid Date

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0.0

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Shaw production

6.0

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7.0

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0.0

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5.8

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0.0

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0.0

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6.8

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0.0

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No overview available.