Lady in the Moon

Dir: Yuan Qiufeng
Scr: Yi Fan
Prod Co: Cathay
Co-starring: Chao Lei, Jean Li Chi-ann, Tian Qing, Wong Shun, Lo Ping
1966 / Colour / D Beta / Mandarin / 96min

Yuan Qiufeng again directed his muse in Yi Fan's ingenious melding of two ancient Chinese mythologies: Chang'e flight to the moon and the Lord Archer Hou Yi's shooting of the suns. Fairy Chang'e (Betty Loh Ti) is granted permission by the Queen Mother of the fairies to descend to the mortal world and marry the heroic archer (Chao Lei), a reunion that promises to bring good to the people. Yet, corrupted by power, Hou becomes a conceited tyrant who levies hefty taxes on his people to fund his military conquests. Consumed with the quest for immortality, he even resorts to throwing the jade rabbit into a furnace to concoct an elixir of life. Resigned to accept that her husband is beyond redemption, she steals the elixir, swallows it and takes flight to the moon…Noted for her ethereal beauty, Betty Loh Ti was born to play the fair goddess Chang'e.

Screening courtesy of Cathay Organisation