The Magic Cup

Cheung Tat (Mak Bing-wing) has been taking care of his daughter Bobo (Fung Bo-bo) ever since the death of his wife. However, Tat’s second wife Pik-chun (Lee Hong-kum) and her lover (Auyeung Kim) have been planning to murder Tat and Bobo. Fortunately, the clever Bobo manages to recruit a ‘Magic Cup Genie’ (Law Yim-hing) to save the day and help Tat win the affection of Princess Po-ling (also Law Yim-hing). Together, the three start a beautiful new family. 

Committed to making films that have equal measures of entertainment and education, Tao Yuen illustrates the mission and unique characteristic of its films by branding The Magic Cup as an ‘fairy-tale educational blockbuster’ in the first frames. Combining music, the otherworldly and education in one package, the film’s special effects took especially long to complete. In fact, the film used five times more celluloid than a typical film because 1,255 of the film’s 2,500 shots are with special effects. Just the giant well in the film alone took up all of Wader Studio’s Studio B, and the giant’s fingers were controlled electronically. By 1960 standards, that was considered advanced technology. 

Director Lung To can be dubbed the Tsui Hark of the 1950s and 60s in that he had a grand imagination and the courage to try new things. As a close collaborator, Tao Yuen provided Lung a platform to unleash his limitless imagination and showcase his amazing creativity. Though it was clearly influenced by the story of Aladdin, The Magic Cup also inadvertently shares some similarities with iconic Japanese manga series Doraemon, which was created after this film. For one, Bobo and ‘Magic Cup Genie’ share a relationship not unlike the one between Nobita and the titular Doraemon. Not only is the Genie Bobo’s guardian angel, she is also a spiritual guide who guides Bobo to appreciate the beauty of the world. Having lost her mother when she was little, Bobo projects her mother onto the Genie, who also imbues her with comfort and hope. Bobo is not the only child that the Genie grew up with; she’s also a beautiful memory for a whole generation of Hong Kong children. In one of her best-known works, Fung Bo-bo’s adorable smile provides effective contrast against Law Yim-hing’s dignified persona. This programme will screen both part one and concluding episode in its entirety for audiences to relive the wonderful childhood memory.

# Post-screening talk with Eric Li and Priscilla Chan

The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.