The Love Eterne
Encyclopedia
The Love Eterne is a 1963 Hong Kong musical film
of the Huangmei opera
genre directed by Li Han Hsiang
. It is based on the Chinese
classic story The Butterfly Lovers, which is sometimes referred to as the Romeo and Juliet
of the Far East
. The film was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 36th Academy Awards
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Shan Bo walked with Ying Tai for 18 miles to send off his sworn brother. She tried several times to hint to him her identity during the journey but to no avail despite insulting him twice in her exacerbation with his denseness. Finally, she found a way and got his consent to matchmake him to her "twin sister". She exhorted him to seek out his fiancee' soon before they reluctantly took leave of each other at the pavilion where they first met. Upon returning to school, Shan Bo was restless and could not concentrate on his studies in the absence of his sworn brother. Seeing this, the headmaster's wife told him about Ying Tai, gave him the jade pendant and bade him to go propose to her.
The joy of the reunion of the two came to naught when Ying Tai told Shan Bo he was three months too late. Her father had already betrothed her to the frivolous son of the powerful and wealthy Ma family. Shan Bo, who was already ailing, was deeply grieved. He returned home and his health steadily deteriorating until he became seriously ill. Several days before her wedding day, he asked to see her again. When his servant returned instead with a token from her, it was the final blow. He sent his servant to Ying Tai with a last gift and died. Ying Tai was stricken with sorrow and forced her father to come to a compromise: to allow her to visit Shan Bo's tomb on the way to her betrothed home or she would not marry. At the tomb, she swore her undying love for Shan Bo and that if they could not be together in life, she would rather be with him in death. A tornado sprang up and an earthquake split the tomb in two whereupon Ying Tai threw herself into it. The whipping winds covered the tomb with sand. When the winds died down, two butterflies were seen soon after, flitting away to the heavens.
version, directed by Li Han Hsiang
, is the only adaptation that remains popular to this day. It was a hit in Taiwan, breaking records at the box office in 1963, becoming the longest grossing film at that time. The songs and lyrics left an impression on audiences in East and Southeast Asia
. This film can be considered a quintessential Huang Mei film. In particular, the song (十八相送, 18 miles away) was popularized by the film.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
of the Huangmei opera
Huangmei Opera
Huangmei opera or Huangmei tone originated as a form of rural folksong and dance that has been in existence for the last 200 years and possibly longer. The music is performed with a pitch that hits high and stays high for the duration of the song...
genre directed by Li Han Hsiang
Li Han Hsiang
Richard Li Han Hsiang was a Chinese film director. Li directed more than 70 films in his career beginning in the 1950s and lasting till the 1990s....
. It is based on the Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
classic story The Butterfly Lovers, which is sometimes referred to as the Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
of the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. The film was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 36th Academy Awards
36th Academy Awards
The 36th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1963, were held on April 13, 1964 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. They were hosted by Jack Lemmon....
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Plot
A young 16-year-old girl, Zhu Ying Tai, managed to convince her parents to send her to college at Hangzhou on the condition that she went in the guise of a man. Along her journey to the college, she met 17-year-old Liang Shan Bo who was attending the same school. They became sworn "brothers" and studied for three years together. Over this period of time, they formed a strong friendship. Ying Tai gradually fell in love with Shan Bo who, being a bookworm, never did discover what she was despite coming across a couple of oddities. When she was summoned home by her father, Ying Tai revealed the truth to her headmaster's wife. Ying Tai requested that she be the matchmaker for her and Shan Bo and gave her a jade pendant as a token to be handed to Shanbo.Shan Bo walked with Ying Tai for 18 miles to send off his sworn brother. She tried several times to hint to him her identity during the journey but to no avail despite insulting him twice in her exacerbation with his denseness. Finally, she found a way and got his consent to matchmake him to her "twin sister". She exhorted him to seek out his fiancee' soon before they reluctantly took leave of each other at the pavilion where they first met. Upon returning to school, Shan Bo was restless and could not concentrate on his studies in the absence of his sworn brother. Seeing this, the headmaster's wife told him about Ying Tai, gave him the jade pendant and bade him to go propose to her.
The joy of the reunion of the two came to naught when Ying Tai told Shan Bo he was three months too late. Her father had already betrothed her to the frivolous son of the powerful and wealthy Ma family. Shan Bo, who was already ailing, was deeply grieved. He returned home and his health steadily deteriorating until he became seriously ill. Several days before her wedding day, he asked to see her again. When his servant returned instead with a token from her, it was the final blow. He sent his servant to Ying Tai with a last gift and died. Ying Tai was stricken with sorrow and forced her father to come to a compromise: to allow her to visit Shan Bo's tomb on the way to her betrothed home or she would not marry. At the tomb, she swore her undying love for Shan Bo and that if they could not be together in life, she would rather be with him in death. A tornado sprang up and an earthquake split the tomb in two whereupon Ying Tai threw herself into it. The whipping winds covered the tomb with sand. When the winds died down, two butterflies were seen soon after, flitting away to the heavens.
Cast
- Zhu Ying Tai: Betty Loh TiBetty Loh TiBetty Loh Ti was a Chinese actress who was often described as the 'Chinese Classic Beauty'. In the 1960s, she was popular among both Chinese and Western filmgoers.- Biography :...
- Liang Shan Bo: Ivy Ling PoIvy Ling PoIvy Ling Po is a Chinese actress and Huangmei opera singer. She played an important role in the entertainment industry for preserving the art form.-1950s - 1960s:...
- Ying Hsin: - Ren Jie
- Si Jiu: - Li Kun
- Old Master Zhu: Ching Miao
- Madam Zhu: Chen Yen-yen
- Headmaster: Yang Chih-ching
- Headmaster's wife: Kao Pao-shu
- child actor Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
Production note
The story of "Liang Shan Bo Yu Zhu Ying Tai" is a folk legend set during the period of the Jin Dynasty. There had been various film and TV renditions but the Shaw Brothers'Shaw Brothers Studio
The Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd., was the foremost and the largest movie production company of Hong Kong movies.From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution...
version, directed by Li Han Hsiang
Li Han Hsiang
Richard Li Han Hsiang was a Chinese film director. Li directed more than 70 films in his career beginning in the 1950s and lasting till the 1990s....
, is the only adaptation that remains popular to this day. It was a hit in Taiwan, breaking records at the box office in 1963, becoming the longest grossing film at that time. The songs and lyrics left an impression on audiences in East and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. This film can be considered a quintessential Huang Mei film. In particular, the song (十八相送, 18 miles away) was popularized by the film.
Second Golden Horse Awards (1963)
- Best Film
- Best Director: Li Han Hsiang
- Best Actress: Betty Loh TiBetty Loh TiBetty Loh Ti was a Chinese actress who was often described as the 'Chinese Classic Beauty'. In the 1960s, she was popular among both Chinese and Western filmgoers.- Biography :...
- Special Award For Outstanding Performance: Ivy Ling PoIvy Ling PoIvy Ling Po is a Chinese actress and Huangmei opera singer. She played an important role in the entertainment industry for preserving the art form.-1950s - 1960s:...
- Best Music: Zhou Lan-Ping
- Best Editing: Chiang Hsing-loong
Huangmei Opera Vocals
- Zhu Ying Tai: Tsin TingTsin TingTsin Ting is a Chinese singer and dubbing artist, who is perhaps best known as the Marni Nixon of Hong Kong cinema.-Biography:...
- Liang Shan Bo: Ivy Ling Po
- Old Master Zhu: Kiang Hung (Ying Tai's father)
See also
- Jackie Chan filmography
- List of Shaw Brothers films
- List of submissions to the 36th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Hong Kong submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film