Country:Hong Kong
Runtime:122 min
Released:29 Jan 1968
Plot: Hong Kong Rhapsody 1968 HONG KONG RHAPSODY 1967 is a charming, well made romantic musical comedy drama with an interesting plot and characters Its one of the better Hong Kong musicals Ive seen so far BLUE SKIES, also 1967, and also reviewed on this site, is another good one and probably the best Ive yet seen Peter Chen Ho stars as a playboy magician who changes his ways after he becomes the guardian of a young singer Li Ching, the daughter of a deceased magician buddy Theres a miserly old millionaire Yang Chih ching in one of his biggest parts whose niece is putting on a show and Peter manages to get Li Ching cast in the show, which prompts the millionaire, who has taken a paternal interest in Li Ching, to back it financially and take the girl under his wing, all with the approval of Peter, who wants to distance himself from her for fear that his bad rep will hurt her budding career She, however, has fallen in love with Peter and resents his seeming change in attitude towards her Will true love prevail There are lots of musical numbers, including a big one near the end about being nice to the poor that features a bunch of familiar Shaw Bros character actors Ive seen Li Ching in quite a few Shaw Bros movies, mostly costume action and dramas THE KING WITH MY FACE, THE LONG CHASE, KING EAGLE, etc , but shes at her prettiest here and has a steady stream of attractive costume changes as well The film is a little too long at 122 minutes, but I stayed with it One of the problems though, and the same one Ive had with pretty much every Hong Kong musical Ive seen so far, is that the songs and dances just arent very good Theres a lot of production value on screen, but either the choreography is haphazard or the dancers just arent that competent And the songs are all a little too heavy Wheres the light touch, the sense of fun that these numbers needed The average Elvis Presley musical made in Hollywood during the same period had better songs and dances The more apt equivalent in American pop culture of the time would be the musical numbers on a TV variety show like Hollywood Palace, although even those would have been better I dont know what relationship the 1960s Shaw Bros musical had to contemporary Hong Kong pop music of the era, although Im guessing it was about the same as the relationship of the Elvis musicals to larger currents in American pop music of the time, i e practically nonexistent To be honest, from a musical standpoint I happen to prefer the Shaw Bros Huangmei operas of the period THE BRIDE NAPPING, LOVE ETERNE, DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER, etc to the contemporary musicals
More Movies on AZMovies
Who Shot Biggie & Tupac? (2017)
A look into the unsolved murders of the 90s hip hop stars
Home Alone 4 2002
Kevin McCallister's parents have split up. Now living with his mom, he decides to spend Christmas with his dad at the mansion of his father's rich girlfriend, Natalie. Meanwhile robber Marv...
David Cross: Making America Great Again (2016)
David Cross: Making America Great Again (2016) Actor/comedian David Cross skewers Donald Trump, takes shots at religious taboos and American swagger in a hilarious yet provocative night of comedy at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX.
O Bi, O Ba The End of Civilization (1985)
O Bi, O Ba The End of Civilization 1985 Set in an underground dungeon inhabited by bundled, ragged human beings, after the nuclear holocaust The story follows the wanderings of a hero through the situations of survival People wait for the Ark to arrive and rescue them while their habitat falls apart
Cole (2009)
Cole 2009 Welcome to Lytton Population 350 Home of the World Famous Gold Rush Days and not much else Cole Chambers is a young man who has spent his entire life picking up the pieces of his shattered family He protects his older sisters 6 year old son from his abusive step father He manages the famil
Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) Sassy Janie Starks looks unlike to get anywhere in pre-Great War Easton, Florida, but lands the best colored catch, lively shopkeeper Joe Starks, who even becomes town mayor. However her refusal to oblige his expectations of decency turn love into bitterness. Afte
A Place in the Sun (1951)
A Place in the Sun (1951) The young and poor George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) leaves his religious mother and Chicago and arrives in California expecting to find a better job in the business of his wealthy uncle Charles Eastman. His cousin Earl Eastman advises him that there are many women in the f
Douce (1943)
Douce (1943) In Paris in 1887, Irène works as a governess to Douce, the grand-daughter of the dowager Countess de Bonafé. Douce believes she is in love with Fabien, the handsome manager of the estate. However she cannot hope to marry him because of their class difference. Douce's widowed father, t
Fantasies (2021)
Fantasies 2021 Follows six couples and revolves around their intimate lives and fantasies, from role playing to exhibitionism and abstinence
Caveman (1981)
A caveman seeks revenge on a much larger competitor for the hand of a beautiful cavewoman.
A Real Young Girl (1976)
A Real Young Girl (1976) Reluctantly, only child Alice Bonnard, a sulky and curious adolescent, returns to her parents' provincial farm house for yet another boring and endless end-of term vacation from boarding school, in the summer of 1963. Sadly, what awaits her there is a farce of a happy family
Babylon 5 The Road Home (2023)
Babylon 5 The Road Home 2023 John Sheridan finds himself transported through multiple timelines and alternate realities in a quest to find his way back home
The Investigator (2013)
The Investigator (2013) Twenty year veteran investigator Sergeant James Buanacore (Wade Williams) starts the most important investigation of his life when a drug bust goes tragically bad. The death of the apparent suspect forces James out of the job he loves and into retirement. When James' wife Ste
Dragonfly (2002)
A grieving doctor is being contacted by his late wife through his patients near death experiences.
All Summer Long (2019)
All Summer Long (2019) Tia's dream job of captaining a dining cruise hits rough water when her ex Jake is hired as the restaurant's chef.
Suzaki Paradise Red Light District (1956)
Suzaki Paradise Red Light District 1956 A couple stand indecisively on a bridge in Asakusa Tsutae and Yoshiji have lost confidence and passion for their future as they get on the bus for Tsukishima and get off at Suzaki Across the bridge they see the sign for Suzaki Paradise, a red light district wh