Dir/ Scr: Chiang Wai-kwong
Librettist: Tong Tik-sang
Prod Co: Tao Yuen
Cast: Yam Kim-fai, Pak Suet-sin, Leung Sing-po, Poon Yat On, Tam Sin-hung
1959 / B&W / D Beta / Cantonese / 114min

 

Inspired by a Ming dynasty drama, this "henpecked husband" revenge comedy is best known for its excerpt, "Kneeling by the Pond". The husband, Kwai-sheung, is ordered to get down on bended knees to pacify his angry wife Yuk-ngor after visiting a brothel. Throughout decades, the excerpt has been widely performed in other operatic genres. In contemporary Kun opera, Yuk-ngor is literally as fierce as a lion whose roars scare the wits out of the men. Pak in this film, however, is not as frightening – probably an effort to protect her screen image. Compared with the stage performance, this condensed film version has more sing-along ditties than passages composed in the traditional  bongwong  tune. Tong, as a librettist, knows theatre and scene breaks in moviemaking equally well. Cantonese opera has become much more accessible because of cinema, and Tong's contributions are certainly massive.