Three Charming Smiles
Dir: Li Pingqian
Scr: Yi Fang (aka Yip Yut-fong)
Prod Co: Great Wall
Cast: Chen Sisi, Hsian Chun, Wen Yimin, Chu Li, Qiu Ping
1964 | Colour | D Beta | Mandarin | Chi & Eng subtitles | 109min
Three Charming Smiles is classical Chinese folk tale. Tang Bohu is smitten by the stunning beauty of Qiuxiang, the maid of Grand Tutor Hua during his visit to a monastery in Suzhou. Stalking the maid like a lunatic, Tang is swooned by her three smiles. To approach Qiuxiang, Tang seeks work in Hua's residence as a study companion, and his talents win Hua's recognition. In this boy-meets-girl period film, Li interestingly tackles all the clichés with a modern mind. Just like most screwball comedies, this film charmingly plays with mistaken identities. Also, the songs performed in the film are adapted from the familiar tunes of Shanghai's heydays, such as, Zhou Xuan's The Wandering Songstress.