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With: Brigitte Lin, Cherie Chung, Sally Yeh, Kenneth Tsang, Wu Ma, Paul Chun, Mark Cheng, Cheung Kwok Keung, Ku Feng, Lee Hoi-sang, Leong Po-Chih, Huang Ha, Sandra Ng, Dean Shek, Yin Szema, Tien Ching, David Wu
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Written by: Raymond To
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Directed by: Tsui Hark
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MPAA Rating: NR
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Language: Cantonese, with English subtitles
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Running Time: 104
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Date: 09/06/1986
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Peking Opera Blues (1986)
Scheme Theatre
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
In 1986, Tsui Hark produced John Woo's A Better Tomorrow and directed Peking Opera Blues. Both films were said to have changed the game of Hong Kong cinema, starting a brand-new New Wave. This one is a comedy-of-errors, a drawing-room affair with all kinds of zany antics, mostly set in and around the theater of the title. The story is centered on three women. Tsao Wan (Brigitte Lin) is the devoted daughter of General Tsao, although she opposes her father's politics. Sheung Hung (Cherie Chung) is a street musician who steals a box of jewels; she ditches them and they make their way to the theater. And Bai Niu (Sally Yeh) is the daughter of the theater owner; she dreams of being a performer, but, given that this is the year 1912, women are not allowed to be on stage. When they collide, it creates vast amounts of chaos. Director Tsui keeps things humming and also provides some nice character moments. This is certainly one of his best movies.
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