The Legend of Purple Hairpin (1959)

Prior to the film version of Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom, Lee Tit already had the experience of taking Sin Fung Ming's The Legend of Purple Hairpin onto the silver screen. He unveiled the cinematic structure and rhythm contained in Tong Tik-sang's script and brought it to life through his directing style. Meticulously arranged camera movements and tight editing weave Yam, Pak and Leung's characters deeply into the story. From scenes of the courtesan's blues to the tension at the corrupt official's home, every moment put on display just how carefully the director had crafted his film composition. Furthermore, the opening shot enters a theatre stage, where the story begins, while the final shot exits the stage—highlighting the beautiful marriage of the two art forms of Cantonese opera and film.