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CINEMA AND THE FEMALE STAR Article Year: February 23, 2003 Written By: Feng-ying Ming (teaches at California State University, Long Beach) |
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Throughout the history of cinema, the female actor has functioned as a screen goddess, an image of perfection, and a powerful affective force. Whether it is a specific vocal intonation, a certain physical, psychological or political disposition, or a combination of these, the female actor has the power to give expression to our dreams, desires, and fears. As part of its continuing focus on women and cinema, Senses of Cinema recently extended an invitation to its contributors to reflect on, and pay tribute to, a specific female actor. The result is an eclectic and unconventional range of entries that testifies to the power and force of the female actor. Ling Po Ling Po starred in many Hong Kong musicals (those using the "Huangmei melody") of the 1960s. She mesmerized her audience with her unique style in playing the opposite sex, mainly young male scholars pursuing their love lives. She is also famous for her mastery of the Huangmei melody that she sang in all her musicals. She has appeared in more than 100 movies, along with dozens of soap opera series and records. Born in Fujian province in 1939, Ling Po was trained from infancy to be a traditional opera performer. She commenced her film career at the age of 14, playing various kinds of minor and supporting roles in more than 50 low budget films in the Southern Fujian dialect, which were mainly featured in Taiwan and in the Chinese expatriate communities in Southeast Asia. Her talents in singing and playing the opposite sex were discovered and used successfully by Hong Kong filmmaker, Li Hanxiang, when he revived the Huangmei melody and adapted it to film. (The Huangmei melody is based on a popular folk melody of Hubei province and was revived in the 1960s.) Between 1963 and 1969, Ling Po starred in more than 20 Huangmei musicals, her representative role being Liang Shanbo, the romantic yet ill-fated tragic male hero in the extremely popular musical, The Love Story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (1963). When the movie was first released, it ran continuously for three months, a box office record at the time. Ling's unique performing skills have made her a legend ever since. She is emblematic of the transitional stage in Chinese performing arts from traditional theatre to the cinematic realm. In 1960, the Taiwanese Golden Horse Award Committee presented her with a special award for "Best Performing Skills," something intended to distinguish her from the regular "Best Actor" or "Best Actress" categories. Ling's other representative Huangmei musicals include The Seven Fairies (Qixiannu, 1963), Hua Mulan (1964), The Secret History of the Song Imperial Palace (Songgong mishi, 1965), The Western Chamber (Xixiangji, 1965), The Mermaid (Yumeiren, 1965), The Romance of the Three Smiles (Sanxiao, 1969). Her other, non-Huangmei movies include The Legendary Martyr (Wan'gu liufang, 1965), Love in War (Fenghuo wanli qing, 1967), Songs of Tomorrow (Mingri zhi ge, 1967), The Mute and His Bride (Yaba yu xin'niang, 1971). Source: http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/02/23/symposium2.html |