Hokkien Monroe In Nyonya Kebaya - Astonishingly sexy Ting Lan

Accidentally found this adverstisement in The Companion pictorial, and fall in love immediately!

Look at Hokkien Monroe Ting Lan, dressed elegantly in nyonya kebaya, curvaceously glamorous with a sunshine smile, and not to mention her captivating gaze...

Oh my god, that is astonishingly sexy, stunningly beautiful!

I must watch one of her film in my future visit to HKFA~~

Treasures From Ebay: Forever Bai Guang - Eternally Bai Guang

It is always wonderful and extremely pleasant to chat with Madame Yang, It made me forget the existence of time.

A progressive leftist in 1960-1970s of Malaysia, I truly impressed by her charisma, being sporting, generous, intellectual, rationally witty and open minded, which I have always learnt alot from her.

When comes to movies and art, she is definately an unquestionable enthusiast, whom she also watched wide genres of movies, ranging from silent to contemporary arthouse movies too.

Of course, not to mention her encounter and stories with movie legends, including Bai Guang,

I have came to learnt alot about later-year Bai Guang from her, and from Madame Yang's story sharing, and it is truly interesting to discover that being a superstar and a household name, you have no idea how pleasant and modest Bai Guang was.

Besides that, for 3 times in her life bai Guang suffered a great deal from cancer, but with her ultimate courage and survivor instinct, she overcome and cope with it again and again, and that really inspired me.

Despite admiring her courage and spirit, somehow I feel life seems to be too diffcult for her

but thank god, she found her true love at last.

I still yet to visit Bai Guang's Piano tomb, to pay her my heartfelt respect.

Last but not least, sharing a few treasures found in ebay, especially to all who love and appreciate Bai Guang,

Heroicallly Elegant and confident, these photos were taken in the pinnacle of her career, probably in late 1940s or early 1950s of Hong Kong...

Forever Bai Guang, eternally Bai Guang...

In Memory of Hu Xiaofeng (1924-2009)

Behind the scene: In fimset of The Bride Hunter (1960), comedic and humorous Hu Xiaofeng and serious looking Hsia Moon

Yet another great loss of Hong Kong Cinema,

Veteran director of Great Wall Studio Hu Xiaofeng, passed away peacefully in Haven of Hope Hospital, Kowloon

Two veteran of hong Kong leftist studio had just departed, on the same month, October 2009.

Hu Xiaofeng started his career in film industry, having discovered by maestro Fei Mu in late 1940s.

Intitially started as actor, Hu Xiaofeng soon change his career path to director, and have become an established director in Hong Kong mandarin cinema,

Hu Xiaofeng and Li Tziang in their wedding banquet, together with Fu Che, Shek Hwei and Hsia Moon

In mid 1950s, Hu married Li Tziang, a celebrated actress of Great Wall Studio, which was discovered by Richard Poh in early 1950s.

Hu was famous for his comedy work, most notably co-directed Shaoxing opera comedy The Bride Hunter (1960) with nowadays Master of Wu Xia novelist Jin Yong,

Also nowadays Great Wall classics, another Hu's successful work of same genre is My Darling Princess (1964), both starring Hsia Moon.

Besides that, Gentleman Who Steals (1963), a fine social comedy of parody, in depiction of dissolution and hypocrisy of upper-class morality, was directed wonderfully by Hu. During its theatrical release, it was in the top of box office success for B&W category in that year.

Hu Xiaofeng, Chen Sze Sze and friend in 1990s

Not to be missed is Hu's House (1970), a critically acclaimed work of early Hong Kong neorealism example.

Over here I would like to extend my heartfelt condolence, especially to Li Tziang,it must have been a tough period for her.

May Hu Xiaofeng rest in peace...

In Memory of Dodo Liu Lian (1923-2009)

I just came across that Dodo Liu Lian passed away in 20 October 2009.

A veteran of Great Wall that famed for her versatility, Liu Lian has involved in showbiz since early 1940s,

By far, I only had chance to watch to of her movies with Great Wall, and listened two of her songs recorded in early 1950s, and Liu Lian was indeed impressing and fascnating,

For those who are not familiar with her, she was the equivalent of Gao Bao Shu or Wang Lai of Shaw bros and MP&GI Studio.

More about Liu Lian soon, and meanwhile sharing below is an excerpt from Great Wall Classic by late Hu Xiao Feng (1924-2009) - Gentleman Who Steals (1963) , whom Liu Lian played dissolute Madame Hsia:



May Liu Lian rest in peace, you will always be remembered.

Donde Voy: Chung Ching in her Early Stardom

Before become the leading lady of Xin Hua Studio, Chung Ching undergone a rather dim period of her acting career, which has been constantly casted as supporting role.

Sharing a few photos from random resource (ebay, Roth's collection), which believe to be from the same series.

Donde voy, where shall I go? That's my description for this photo series, having felt the presences of driftism and wanderism of little wildcat, with a glimpse of little sexy and sorrow

Prehaps at that moment Chung Ching still yet to realise that she could made a breakthourgh later...

Chung Ching: Reminiscence of Glorious Stardom – Only Regrets lingered

Below are the excerpts from interview by Jiang Yun, published in “Chinese Astrology Study” of 1982, A Hong Kong magazines. Dated more almost 30 years ago, this interview is still very fascinating and appealing, as Chung Ching rarely shared her up close and personal story, from life, career, thought, and also her “daughter”– Ah Fook the doggie.

Simple, natural, and friendly, Chung Ching is now dedicated wholeheartedly in pursuing her career as painter. No longer glamorously dressed, neither rouge applied nor jewelry wore, Chung Ching still remain elegant and beautiful in her middle age.

Talking about her passion on painting, Chung Ching replied enthusiastically in blush:

“I’m fond of painting since I was very young, but I haven’t had a chance and right environment to realize this dream. Then, I came to Hong Kong in my teen age, and soon I involved myself in film industry. For film career that spanned more than 10 years, I was occupied most of the time. Day and night, one after another, and it led to the deterioration of my health. I’m fed up with acting, just to tired and joyless to keep me on, thus I started painting again, just to paint away my blue. But Guess what, my passion of drawing resurrected, and eventually I just love it so much until I can’t afford to put a halt, and it continues till today…”

It is hard to imagine that beautiful yet darling Chung Ching remains single, how could that be possible? Well, this is just a matter of choice, she just don’t have a thought to get married.

Despite of countless admirers that gone after her before, she could have chosen one of them, but why Chung Ching chooses to stay alone?

In response to this, she said:

“Well, people might think, a middle age woman like me that still remain single, probably might have overshadowed by terrible past in love and relationship, I must clarified that this is not the case. In fact, I’m indeed have rather wonderful and smooth relationships before. Choice to remain single, I would say, could be attributed to the influence of my mother, ”

“My mum is a tough and determined woman, she left my dad soon after she found out that dad has an romantic affairs with others. I was brought by her to Hong Kong, and to be frank, life hasn’t being easy for a woman to strive for living by herself, especially with a daughter besides.”

“Men suck, that’s what mum told me always. Hence, I have always placed an ultimate expectation towards my admirers, and exclusively picky. However, I don’t deny that being a sentimental girl, especially when I was vulnerable and feeling fragile, I really think that someone has been very caring and nice to me, and thus urge of getting married grew stronger…”

“Why not get married, I want to settle down, that’s the thought that once governed me that time.”

“However, as time goes by, I discovered that they are not as ideal as I thought, Hence, I left them determinedly without looking back, not second chance given, to me or to them.

“That’s how I deal with my relationship most of the time when I was young, isn’t that ambivalent?”

“I won’t marry again I suppose, nor seeking for partner, especially in my middle age now. I guess is just too hard for other to tolerate and adapt to my characteristic and lifestyle, and vice versa, I’m already used to have total freedom nowadays, and I’m happy with it…”

Did Chung Ching still reminiscing her glorious past? She replied undoubtedly:

“A past is a past, there are just past tenses. However sometime I regretted, of all 60 movies that I have made, none one of them worth me a retrospect, none one of them was a classic, or even consider notable.”

“I was stereotyped to play the same role repetitively, each time it started so fast, and ended so fast, and again, and again... what I can think of now, is just empty, nothing…”

Wildcat Loves Doggie - Chung Ching and Ah Fook in 1980s

I discovered this in depth interview of Little wildcat, Miranda Chung Ching in early 1980s by chance, published in a modest looking Hong Kong astrology magazine.

Totally unexpected, this interview is indeed interesting, as it gave a first hand detail on how Chung Ching think of her career as actress, as well as blissful life with her painting and her doggie Ah Fook, whom she intimately called it "lui lui" , a chinese sobriquet that a mother dedicated to her daughter,

While getting closer to know the real life Chung Ching, the interview also included numerous interesting photos, believe to be taken during the interview, which consists of a few darling one that I'm going to share here, where Chung Ching was playing and pampering her little girl - Ah Fook.

let me summarize and publish more about this interview soon, stay tune:)

Wonderful posts Chung Ching by Dave:

http://softfilm.blogspot.com/search/label/Chung%20Ching

precious photos of Chung Ching from Gilbert's collection:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dk_gilbert/sets/72157604726916788/