I wonder if I am only writing this for myself. Maybe it is a way to help me remember those movies and songs of the 70s. Appreciate fans like Thomas who has openly shared his thoughts and experience. Maybe the movies and songs I speak about at this forum are not the usual big names and blockbusters of the 70s. Nevertheless, I feel they are worth mentioning because collectively they did make up our memories of the 70s taiwanese movies.
What shall I talk about today? Over the weekend, I was arranging my recording of the old movie songs in my MP3 player. The following were some of the movie songs that reminded me of that era we so long to hold on to:
Zho bu wan de lu (Never ending road) - This soundtrack was actually ahead of its time and was very well made. The songs were all written by the then upcoming but not so famous Luo Ta You. There were at least 4 songs written for the movie, starring Chen Chiong Mei, Hu Ying Meng and Ma Yung Ling. Chen Chiong Mei also sang the songs for the movie and she played the role of a singer in this film. Film storyline was good but despite Hu and Ma in the film, Chen did not draw the audience to the cinema. Film and soundtrack did not do well at that time. Chen actually disappeared from the movie scene after this movie, which she also co-produced. She was popular as a child star in the 60s but the 70s was just not for her anymore. What a pity. Throughout the 70s, we have seen singers who have tried to stick a foot in the movie industry, some with success but many failed.
Jenny Tseng acted in movies like "Come Rain Come Shine" with Charlie Chin, Shi Feng, "Feng Yeh Qing" with Lin Ching Hsia and Alan Tang, and a few Shaw brother movies with Fu Sheng and played opposite Samuel Hui in "Chuen Jia Fu". She never made it big in the movies. Singing was still her biggest strength.
With more success is Feng Fei Fei: "Feng Er Ti Ta Chai" and "Jiu Shi Liu Liu de Ta" with Kenny Bee - both were great box office hits during the Chinese New Year season. She did epic movies like "Phoenix Tears" with Wang Yu and "Chun Han" with Liang Xiu Sheng - both did not do too well in the box office. She appeared in several Liu Jia Chang movies as herself: Wen Ruan Jai Qiu Tian, Ming Tian Er Shi Sui. Ying Hsia whom I spoke about last time, did quite well as an actress.
Shen Yen, whose most popular song "Ta Lang" did not too badly as an actress: "Qiao Lu Chai Tie Fei Ya Fei" and "Peng Peng Yi Chuan Xin" with Kenny did quite well in the box office. She also teamed up with Tien Niu in a golden horse award movie "Girls school" where she played lover to Tien Niu. This was one of the new age movies at the end of the love story era. Interestingly, Liu Jia Chang also groomed Shen Yen and wrote songs for her in the movie "Peng Peng Yi Chuan Xin" and his own movie "Han Jiang Qiu Sui" starring Chen Chen. Lucky for Shen Yen came out at the time when the movie industry was looking for new faces and there was this trend where leading actresses also could sing. Timing and luck were the key factors.
Another of such an example is Jiang Ling. Jiang Ling's biggest hit was "Wo De Xiao Mei" which was popular all over Asia. She costarred Kenny in this movie and subsequently teamed up with Kenny again in "He Pan Ching Cao Ching" - a heartwarming story about countryside love and lifestyle - VCD is on sale - you should get that. Jiang Ling then did some movie with Li Dao Hung in "Gui Ren" which featured lovely songs. One interesting role she took on was "Chinese lady soldiers" which gave her a chance to work with Lin Ching Hsia, Tang Lan Hua, Gui Ya Lei, Ying Chai Ling, Xia Ling Ling. A megacast and a Chinese New Year blockbuster hit. One thing interesting is that many of these new starlets were teamed up with Kenny - he was probably the next biggest Taiwanese love story lead actor after chin han, alan tang and charlie chin. His co-stars included Ying Chai Ling, Shen Yen, Jiang Ling, Ying Hsia, Ru Xiu Ling, Feng Fei Fei - all did not too badly in the box office. He also had a chance to work with Lin Feng Chiao but strangely enough, not Lin Ching Hsia and Chen Chen.
Another movie song which people may have forgotten is "Memory of love" which is the theme song from the movie "Didi's diary". This movie won Tien Niu and Gui Ya Lei awards at the Golden Horse Award. There were 3 songs written for this movie by Tony Oong Ching Xi, who is an excellent composer in the 70s. This movie is one of the best movies I watched in the 70s, because of its realism, heartwarming story and purity. The songs in the movie were performed by the fabulous Cui Tai Ching. She is the disciple of Tony who wrote many movie songs for her including "Feng Ling Feng Ling", "Jian Jian Feng", "Lang Hua", "Last night misty rain", "Pen Fang Ching Chun Pen Fang Qing", "Wild pigeon", "Pai Hua Piao Shue Hua Piao". She was also the favorite singer for many Li Hsing directed movies: Lang Hua, Feng Ling Feng Ling, Pai Hua Piao Shue Hua Piao. She has a distinct voice that no one can imitate. I am glad I have collected her songs over the years. Back to movie Didi's diary, it featured Tien Niu and Chin Han for the first time which came across as refreshing. They subsequently teamed up again in "Xiao Yu Sze Sze" which did not do too well in the box office. At that time, the audience seemed to like the Tien Niu-Liu Wen Zhen combination. Even with Charlie Chin, it was not a successful pairing.
I think I spoke enough for today. Share your views too.
Rgds
Bill
Posted on Feb 29, 2008, 5:19 AM from IP address 213.106.233.61