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Soft Film: Vintage Chinese Cinema
softfilm.blogspot.com
11
Exploring the ephemeral past of Chinese entertainment from Hong Kong, the U.S.A., and other parts of the world: vaudeville pioneers, flappers, aviatrices, burlesque dancers, hula hoopers, mad divas, movie queens, sex bombs, jade girls, tomboys, pin-ups, sour beauties, girl jocks, swordswomen, Jane Bonds, go-go girls, and the occasional hunk, chubby comic, and were-villain.
#116617 in All

Pearl Chang: A Woman Unyielding and Eager to Win

Heres a lengthy article about Pearl that I was lucky to discover: "Chang Ling: A Woman Unyielding and Eager to Win"〈張玲是個好勝倔強的女子〉from the April 1975 issue of the magazine The Woman《婦女雜誌》publis...

1 day ago

Reimagining Pearl Chang: Lotus Rising from the Snow

Portrait of Pearl Chang (as Snow Lotus in Wolf Devil Woman) by Amber Skowronski你有冰雪寒霜之性, 空谷幽春之靈, 淨月芙蓉之貌Your nature is like snow and frost,Your spirit is like springtime in a hidden valley,Your beauty...

3 days ago

Pearl Chang: The Early Years

There is a dearth of information in English about Pearl Changs early career. As a first step towards filling this gap, heres an article that appeared in the February 1974 issue of Golden Movie News (...

20 may 12

At Second Bite: How I Learned to Love the Wolf Devil Woman

First Bite: Yuck!Although Id first read about Pearl Changs films during the mid-90s in Thomas Weissers infamous Asian Cult Cinema, it wasnt until last year that I became a devoted fan.My first taste ...

19 may 12

Finding Kukan: New Trailer!

Filmmaker Robin Lung just posted a new work-in-progress trailer for Finding Kukan, her documentary about the fascinating Li Ling-Ai and the forgotten film she produced to raise awareness about the pl...

10 may 12

Pearl Chang: Strange Flower of the Rivers and Lakes

Just like durian, theres something about Taiwan actress and cult movie queen Pearl Chang Ling (張玲) that elicits extreme devotion or extreme disgust. Perhaps Im forcing the metaphor by using the word ...

08 may 12

The Sweet Sounds of Swing Shine

"Songstress at the End of the World"《天涯歌女》by Swing Shine I just found out about Shanghai jazz duo Swing Shine last week and have been joyously listening to their album Marguerite every day si...

16 apr 12

~ soft pearls ~ Grace Chang Advertising Poster

Im very excited to announce the launch of "Soft Pearls", a new feature in which I highlight some of the most beloved pieces from my collection of Chinese movie memorabilia. Kicking it off in ...

13 apr 12

A Few of My New Favorite Things

My writing chops have gotten a little rusty during my retirement, so let me ease back into blogging by just talking about a few of the things Im really excited about lately.Last fall I received an em...

07 apr 12

To Return or Not to Return

Im a little hesitant to make an announcement like this, which is both a promise to my readers and also a commitment to myself, but I think that Im going to start up Soft Film again, albeit with much ...

06 apr 12

HK Movie Magazines of the 1950s

Although this blog has more or less retired, I havent completely given up writing about the things I love. I recently threw together a piece about old Hong Kong movie magazines for the new web journa...

19 mar 12

Move over, James! Theres a New Bond in Town

No, Im not staging a comeback tour. But I was recently roused out of retirement by the Infernal Brains (aka Tars Tarkas and 4DK), who strong-armed me into participating in their podcast about Hong Ko...

07 feb 12

Barbara Yung: Legend of Burlesque

Belated congratulations to Barbara Yung on her recent induction into the Burlesque Hall of Fame. During the late 1940s, Barbara was one of the reigning queens of the Bay Areas Chinese nightclub scene...

05 jul 11

Diana Chang: Flaming Doll

Movie flyer courtesy of HKMDBDa jia hao! I just stumbled on the following compilation of scenes from Diana Changs 1959 movie Flaming Doll (噴火女郎) — aka The Blazing Charmer aka She Sets My Heart on Fir...

26 jun 11

Soft Film Transmigrates to Tumblr

As I slooooowly wind down my blog, I still get the urge to post a piece of ephemera — a recent acquisition or an old favorite — but sans the clumsy words that always seem to take so long to...

16 apr 11

Behind the Scenes at a Chinese Studio

From the Fox Movietone News Collection at the University of South Carolina comes an extraordinary piece of Chinese movie history: rare newsreel outtakes showing the shooting of a film at what is beli...

13 apr 11

Soft Film Video Jukebox: Wonfu Jr.

I totally missed the news last December about my favorite Taiwan band Wonfus reincarnation as Wonfu Jr. (not to mention their appearance at SXSW last month). Inspired by their 2009 visit to the Rock ...

11 apr 11

Coming Soon: Pearl Chang Ling

31 mar 11

Wuxia Sweethearts 2

Li Ching (courtesy of penangantiques)Pearl Chang Ling (more coming soon!)

27 mar 11

Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words

Earlier today I saw Yunah Hongs new documentary Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words (2010) at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. I deliberately went in with modest expectations...

14 mar 11

Wuxia Sweethearts

Polly Shangkuan Ling-fengConnie Chan Po-chu

07 mar 11

Soft Film Valentine: Zhuang Xue Fang

Ever since I first laid eyes on Singapore songstress and Hokkien movie queen Zhuang Xue Fang (aka Chong Sit Fong), I was instantly mesmerized by her pixie charm. My buddy Dev Yang has already written...

14 feb 11

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Rabbit! I mentioned before that I had some unfinished blog business to wrap up before I finally call it quits. And so, lat...

03 feb 11

Give Me One More Piece of Cake

Thanks again everybody for the huge outpouring of love and support! Its enough to make me feel soft and chewy on the inside. Well, as fate would have it, my retro-buddy Dev Yang just posted a truly r...

06 jan 11

Thats All Folks — Zai Jian!

From the 1968 Cathay film Song of Our Family (extant but not available on DVD)Its not without teary eyes that I announce the end of this blog. The past two and a half years have been full of discover...

02 jan 11

Merry Christmas!

My buddy Oldflames and I would like to send our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season. Joy and peace to one and all!If youre craving some jingle bell rock, then how about a yu...

22 dec 10

Hong Kong Fashionistas: The Singers

I couldnt resist these two stylish young ladies, whose photos are currently going for auction on eBay right now. The first is Lee Bo Ying (李寶瑩), a Cantonese opera singer who made some 40 films betwee...

20 dec 10

"Missing" Shaw Films Found in Creatives ZiiEagle Treasure Box

WANTED: Poison Rose with Julie Yeh FengEarlier this year I was bemoaning the fact that there were many titles from Celestial Pictures acquisition of the Shaw Brothers film library that still remained...

16 dec 10

Anna May Wong: La Malinche

Currently up for auction on eBay is this fabulous portrait by Armando Drechsler of Anna May Wong as the controversial "Mother of Modern Mexico", La Malinche. Its not as odd as first seems. Du...

15 dec 10

Lets Go Lin Dai! Cinderella and Her Little Angels (1959)

In my previous post I talked about Lin Dais popularity as a singer and the irresistible charm of her unschooled voice. By the end of the 1950s, after recording more than 40 songs, she had definitely ...

13 dec 10

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