I Love A-Go-Go (1967)Abandoned by her birth parents, teenaged So So (Josephine Siao) lives with adoptive parents and new sister Yan Yan (Nancy Sit). So So's an ace young singer teaming up with Woo Fung to wow the crowds at lavish dance and cabaret galas, and keeping on the good side of the parents. Not so for Yan Yan, though, who finds the parents disapprove of her hanging out with the wrong crowd -- a' go-go-loving teddy boys and girls -- and cutting class. Grounded while So So's having all the fun, jealous Yan Yan runs further off the rails when she concocts a spiteful plan to put So So's musical ability out of action. A silencing potion will shut So So up and keep her off the stage, she thinks. But only once the drug takes effect, does Yan Yan finally find reason to love. The Hong Kong Film Archive version was screened in Putongua and unsubtitled, so this plot description will remain slim. Difficult to follow without understanding the dialogue, the film is heavy on drama yet holds enough standout acting to readily understand the poignant stage show finale. Words aside, there remain plenty of visual and musical treats on show in I Love A-Go-Go for both fans of the actors and '60s Hong Kong music aficionados. Josephine Siao and Nancy Sit impress, starting from the opening credits scene as Siao lounges around a garden poolside with Woo Fung, set against a strolling guitar band. Siao's every bit the star in the stage set pieces -- concert acts in enormous sets equipped with sparkling props, costume changes aplenty and back-up dancers who look remarkably bored compared to the enthusiastic stars. Nancy Sit plays it bad with gusto and it's exciting to put a face to her a' go-go recordings. Woo Fung is similarly lively and Adam Cheng had the retrospective audience buzzing with his bit-part appearances; first working in a garage and later intervening in a street fight. Note: Film screened at the Hong Kong Film Archive cinema. |
Credits: |
| Main | Movies | DVDs | Extras | Links |