Second Pair

The Monkey Goes West

Dir: Ho Moon-hwa
Scr: Cheng Kang
Prod Co: Shaw Brothers
Cast: Ho Fan, Elliot Yueh Hua, Pang Pang, Diana Chang Chung-wen, Tien Shun
1966 | Colour | DCP | Mandarin | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 112min

The many feats of Monkey King, such as 72 transformations and cloud-somersault, are known to all. But it is only in this film adaptation by Shaw Brothers that the superhero is seen singing huangmei diao. In this first instalment of a film series, director Ho Moon-hwa breaks new ground by forgoing earlier plot details, including Monkey King wreaking havoc in the heavenly palace or Emperor Taizong asking Monk Tripitaka (Ho Fan) to seek scriptures. His narrative opens with the monk and disciples on their way to the West, putting the focus on their encounter with White Dragon Horse. The sequence of Monk Sandy (Tien Shun) being subdued, spiced up by the new subplot of Green Snake Fairy, brims with a sense of novelty. At a time when the huangmei diao film craze was soon to wane, the singing scenes add to this action film an air of classic refinement. Shot in full-colour widescreen format, The Monkey Goes West boasts an exquisite selection of set and costume. In particular, the scene of defeating White Dragon Horse is fondly remembered to this day, as its epic vibe reminds audiences of the virtual faceoff between Monkey King and Godzilla. The finesse of the revolving five-fingered mountain skull is also testament to the high production value in 1960s Chinese cinema.

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