The Lucky Purse

Dir: Wong Tin-lam
Scr: Lu Han
Prod Co: Star Motion
Co-starring: Chang Yang, Tian Qing, Man Oi-lan, Han Yan, Yiu Kwang-chao
1966 / Colour / D Beta / Mandarin / Chi subtitles / 97min

Jin Xiangling (Betty Loh Ti) is betrothed in marriage to Zhou Tingxun (Chang Yang) but their nuptials have been held off by Tingxun who sets his mind on obtaining honours at the imperial examinations. Weary of the magistrate's son Liu Jinhu (Su Xiang) with his designs on her daughter, Xiangling's mother (Hong Wei) seeks to hasten the wedding by bestowing a gift on her daughter – a dowry purse filled with treasures and blessings – oblivious to the scheme hatched by the hostile suitor Jinhu to frame Tingxun… Adapting the signature play of Cheng Yanqui (one of the four great female leads of Peking opera) into a huangmei diao film, director Wong Tin-lam enriched the plot by injecting the story with the gripping episodes of corrupt officials snatching people's wives and a loyal maid saving her mistress and addressing injustice. Starring opposite Chang Yang for the first time, Betty Loh Ti played a noble lady from an illustrious family who is at once kind-hearted, sharp-witted and poised. Her iconic delivery has captivated audiences across generations.