(02) Shaw Bros Director - Chu Yuan
Vibrant colors, gorgeous sets, stars-pack cast… these are the trademarks of director Chu Yuan’s movies. Since his popular success of “Killer Clans” in the mid-70s, he begins his long series of adaptation of Ku Lung’s novels : “The Magic Blade”, “Clan of Intrigue”, “Jade Tiger”, “Sentimental Swordsman”, “The Proud Twins” …. starring most of Shaw Studio biggest stars as Ti Lung, Lo Lieh, Ching Li, Yue Hua, Ling Yun, Fu Sheng, Derek Yee, Tsung Hua…. . These movies give him an international reputation.
Prior to this wave of adaptations of Ku Lung’s novels by him, Chu Yuan has filmed a number of swordplay and kung fu movies in the early ‘70s. When he joins Shaw Studio in 1971, his first stab at the swordplay film is “Duel For Gold” . Subsequently, “The Killer” , “The Bastard” and his 1972, immensely popular, controversial wu xi pian “Intitmate Confessions Of A Chinese Courtesan” .
Chu Yuan’s greatest hit in the HK movie industry is his renowned comedy “House of 72 Tenants” , This has created another wave as many comedies are seen in the cinemas : “The Country Bumpkins”, “Gossip Street”…. However, his sequel “Hong Kong 73” is not well perceived as the “House of 72 Tenants”.
Chu Yuan has a strong aesthetic sense and he infuses his trademark elegance into the elaborately stylized romance. This is obvious in his “Lovers Destiny” , “The Forbidden Past” , “Sex, Love and Hate” and “Sorrow Of The Gentry”.
Chua Yuan – my all-times favorite director of the ‘70s !
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