![]() ![]() Love of the White Snake (Zhen Bai She Chuan), directed by Chan Jeung Wah, Hong Kong, 1978, 95 minutes. Warning: At least some early DVD editions of this movie were very poorly produced, but the 2004 “DTS Version” from Mei Ah is just fine. A modern Hong Kong fantasy flick-complete with wires-and the most erotic version of this story you’re ever likely to see! Great fun, with surprising twists on the old tale. Green Snake, directed by Tsui Hark, Hong Kong, 1993, 98 minutes. One interesting twist is that Fahai-played by martial arts star Jet Li-has been mostly restored to his original role as a heroic demon fighter, thereby providing a more morally balanced conflict between himself and the women. A very loose retelling, but stays mostly true to the spirit of the original, while straying far from the letter. Probably the biggest production of this story to date. The Sorcerer and the White Snake (Bai She Chuan Shuo), directed by Ching Siu-Tung, Hong Kong, 2011, 100 minutes. A bonus in this digitally restored version is the brilliance of the color and the picture clarity. The story is also simplified fairly well-except for a contrived and unsatisfactory ending. The movie, then, has the feel of Chinese opera without the great length. Also from Chinese opera-or heavily influenced by it-are the costumes, makeup, and fight-scene acrobatics. Though most of the movie is in straight dialog, frequent sections are straight from Chinese opera. ![]() This is the classic movie version of the tale, starring the screen legend Lin Dai. ![]() Madam White Snake, directed by Yueh Fung, Shaw Brothers Studio, Hong Kong, 1962, restored by Celestial Pictures, Hong Kong, 2004, 95 minutes. Also available on DVD as a partially animated video, Pan Asian Publications, 2008. My own picture book retelling, based on Tian Han’s libretto, with illustrations showing traditional Chinese opera costumes. Lady White Snake: A Tale From Chinese Opera, retold by Aaron Shepard, illustrated by Song Nan Zhang, Pan Asian Publications, Union City, California, 2001. A video of a Cantonese Opera stage production. by Nan Hai Co.īai She Chuan (Legend of the White Snake), Po Wah Video Production, Flat E 3/F Worldwide Industries Building, 33 To Kwa Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, date unknown, two cassettes. No known supplier, but formerly distributed in the U.S. A video of a movie featuring Beijing Opera performed on standard movie sets and on location at West Lake. Bai She Chuan (Legend of the White Snake), by Tian Han, adapted by Zhao Laijing and Li Zhongchen, directed by Fu Chaowu, performed by Shanghai’s Second Beijing Opera Troupe, Shanghai Film Studio, Shanghai, 1983, 145 minutes. ![]()
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