Romance of the Jade Hall (Part 1) (1957)

Cantonese opera-singing screen star Cheung Ying plays Ali, an entertainer whose reputation for womanising has him hauled up in front of a queen (Law Yim-hing). Deciding to judge Ali's charms for herself over a private dinner, the queen quickly falls for his charms and a marriage is on the cards. Ali, however, doesn't warm to the palace lifestyle and yearns for the liberties of life back home, as too does his assistant Jack (Leung Sing-po) after he falls for the queen's maid, Lolo (Tam Lan-hing).

The plot's enough for a 10-minute short but, presented via Cantonese opera, it's stretched to two hours thanks to the singing. Very few lines in the film are conventional conversation and the continued traditional music accompaniment lends the comedy a good sense of rhythm. Interestingly, the film is presentedwithout any firm reference to location or date in the film itself, barring a large 1950s limo appearing near the end and gaudy Western costuming. Sets are glaringly recycled throughout the film but the large European-style interior designs are distinctive thanks to curved finishes and sculptural furnishings.

Law Yim-hing is attractive as the queen and while Cheung and Leung's song and humour could be an acquired taste for some contemporary viewers, I liked the pair. Helena Law Lan has an ongoing bit part as one of the queen's guards, and is dolled up in a silvery shirt, a mini-skirt, white boots and a large feather in her tiara.

Note: The Motion Picture & General Investment (MP&GI, Cathay) production screened at the Hong Kong Film Archive.

Credits:
Directed by Tso Kea
Starring Cheung Ying, Law Yim-hing, Leung Sing-po and Tam Lan-hing

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