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Dennis Lee’s
Top Picks:
1)
Battle at Sizhou (1962)
This opera
film grew on me after repeated viewings. Reading the
HKFA’s plot summary was also a great help. The story
notwithstanding, the film provides a great display of acrobatics
and sword skills. The underwater denizens Clam Spirit, Dragon
Spirit, and Shrimp Spirit have great headresses. There’s also
a plucky little Turtle. This film is especially notable for being
produced by and starring Connie’s teacher Fan Fok Fa (Fen Juhua).
The cast also includes Lam Kar Sing (another student of Madam
Fan), Leung Sing Bo and his two daughters, Man Lan and Leung Bo
Chu.
2) How the Magic
Boy on the Mythical Crane Slew the Dragon and Saved His Mother
(1962)
Connie doesn’t
appear until late in this martial arts/fantasy film, but
until then there are Flower Maidens, a Tree Demon, an octopus,
Guan Yin, and Monkey to keep things entertaining. Lee Heung
Kam has the most delicious role as the Sea Spirit looking for a
mortal to marry. Connie as the male offspring of a union between
a mortal and one of the Flower Maidens must rescue his mother from
the Tree Demon. Lots of swordplay and singing.
3) The Black Rose
(1965)
Since Nam
Hung also produced the movie, Connie takes a slightly
secondary role. The sisters, under the Black Rose moniker,
play cat and mouse with the cops, the crooks, and an insurance
investigator played by Patrick Tse Yin. Look for cameos by
Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gai as thugs. The film has a great look
to it.
4) Spy with My
Face (1966)
Sort of
a sequel to The Black Rose but missing
Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gai’s action choreography. Instead of
the noir-inspired original, we get a gadget-laden James Bond look.
This time, Patrick Tse plays two roles—and the maternal Lai Man
gets an action scene!
5) The Black Killer
(1967)
Connie in
two roles as brother and sister. They set out to find
their missing uncle by infiltrating crime boss Sek Kin’s
gang. There’s plenty of action and mayhem, thanks to the work
of Lau Kar Leung and Tong Gai.
6) Lady Black Cat
Strikes Again (1967)
From the
opening credits on, Connie is kicking butts. An incriminating
tape hidden in a brooch is at the center of the plot. Filled
with gadgets, a nifty gang lair and a hooded boss, this one exudes
style and flair. Sek Kin is suavely evil as one of the bosses.
7) Four Gentlemanly
Flowers (1968)
In glorious
color and ChiLuenScope, this musical romance comedy
features the power trio of Connie, Lydia Shum, and Nancy
Sit as sisters who discover that their rich father, the philandering
Ko Lo Chuen, is having an affair with Lulu, the always
saucy Meng Li. The film is chock full of gags and musical routines.
Lui Kei plays a jack-of-all-trades teacher to the girls.
Unfortunately, it appears some musical numbers have been excised
from the DVD. However, the remaining numbers, including the school
variety show, are all delightful. Another special treat is Lui Kei’s
rendition of a blind one-armed swordsman. Add Meng Li prancing in
a red teddy, Law Lan and Yue Ming as the servant lovers, and this is
easily one of my favorite Connie films.
8) Teenage Love
(1968)
One of my
first Connie films and still a favorite. Set during
the Christmas holiday season, Connie meets Lui Kei while
dropping off presents at an orphanage. In due course, Connie
agrees to pose as Lui’s fiancee for his allegedly dying father.
Lydia Shum takes a turn as Connie’s boyfriend. The second
half features a twenty minute opera interlude with senior opera
stars—and Connie’s real-life parents—Chan Fai Lung and Gung
Fan Hung.
9) Incredible Rumour
(1968)
Connie
and her irresponsible sister Petrina Fung Bo Bo help
their mother Ha Ping run the family restaurant. Connie’s
engagement to Lui Kei is cancelled when rumors about her
mother surface. A little different from the typical Connie
film, with Ha Ping’s mystery woven into Connie’s romance.
I’m not a big Bo Bo fan, from what little I’ve seen of her,
but I liked her here as the “a go-go”-ing wayward daughter. Songs
by Connie, Bo Bo, and a nice Mandarin version of “San Francisco
(Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” by Chung Ling Ling.
10) Opposite Love (1968)
Director
Chor Yuen raises this tragic romance story to a level
above the standard fare. Connie is in the middle of a romantic
triangle involving Wu Fung who secretly loves her and Cheung
Ching who is encumbered by his wealthy parents.
11) The Dragon Fortress
(1968)
Great plot,
great cast, loads of action, and subtitles too. Connie,
Suet Nei, Kenneth Tsang, Cheung Ying Tsoi, and Sek Kin in
a multi-layered story makes this an exceptional choice. Kenneth
Tsang especially stands out. |
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Connie and Leung Bo Chu in Battle
at Sizhou.
Connie plays the Magic Boy in
How the Magic Boy on the Mythical Crane
Slew the Dragon and Saved His Mother.
Nam Hung and Connie return as
the Black Rose in Spy with My Face.
Connie kicks Sek Kin’s butt
in Lady Black Cat Strikes Again.
Nancy, Lydia, Connie and Lui
Kei in Four Gentlemanly Flowers.
Something is not quite right
about Connie’s mother in Incredible Rumour.
Connie in The
Dragon Fortress.
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