Glorious Musicals

The Wild, Wild Rose (4K Restored Version)

Dir: Wong Tin-lam
Scr: Qin Yifu (aka Nellie Chin Yu)
Prod Co: MP & GI
Cast: Grace Chang, Chang Yang, Dolly Soo Fung, Wang Lai, Ouyang Shafei
1960 | B&W | DCP | Mandarin | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 134min

'JAJAMBO!!!' With hands raised high in what has become her signature pose, Grace Chang pumps audience emotions sky-high with a mesmerising parade of song and dance! Tailor-adapted Bizet’s opera Carmen by Qin Yifu, The Wild, Wild Rose changes Chang’s image from the Mambo Girl to a nightclub songstress, at once radiant, seductive and bewitching while also tempestuous and loyal. She ends the film as a variation of Puccini's Madame Butterfly, doomed by fate despite her determined individuality.

Shot in high-contrast black-and-white and directed by the always-great Wong Tin-lam, the film features stylised lighting, sets and art direction, painting an enticing portrait of the smoky, alcohol-spiked atmosphere of 1950-60s nightlife. The jazz-inspired score by Yao Min, plus the many songs composed for the film by Ryoichi Hattori and lyrics by Li Junqing, are an amazing and everlasting fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. No wonder the film is now considered Must-see, a textbook example of Mandarin musicals and, to boot, a great work of art. This 4K restored version presents again the fruits of labour of the cast and crew, offering a bountiful feast of audial and visual excellence.

Showing with 'Restoration Story' of the Film

Courtesy of Cathay-Keris Films Pte Ltd

The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.