The Spirits (1969) Pu Songling Ghost Stories from Cathay Studios
3689DVD
An
Omnibus from Cathay Studios based on Pu Song-Ling Ghost Stories
Original
Cantonese Title: LIU CHAI JEUNG YEE SAAM CHAP
Original Mandarin Title: LIA ZHAI ZHI YI SAN JI
director: Tang Huang
starring: Chien Yung-Yung · Lin Lin Li · Ching Chen ·
Tan Yu-Li · Fei Lung Chen · Leung Sing-Po
Here
is another exceptional project from the Cathay Organisation, a HK/Taiwanese
studio that was the Shaw Bros main competition through the sixties and
seventies. While Run Run Shaw concentrated more on martial arts and
less on horror, Cathay essentially did the opposite. They would produce
mostly musical comedies and thrillers. This film is a terrific example
of their vision for ghost cinema, usually based on the 17th century
writings of Pu Song-Ling (the source for many Chinese films including
PAINTED
SKIN and CHINESE
GHOST STORY). Also see DEVIL'S
SKIN from Cathay Studios.
This
is an omnibus project with three different stories, each directed by
Tang Huang, with different cast members. The first, Revival of
Wu Chiu Yuen, tells the story of a traveler seduced by a beautiful
ghost when he takes refuge at a mysterious mansion. The second tale,
Lesson of Supernatural Art, deals with a despicable loser
named Wang Qi who attempts to learn magic from a monk who harbors a
dangerous secret. And the third, The Head of a Beauty,
finds a rube scholar venturing into the dark forest to find "a
mountain villa with endless beauties" after making a bet with his
friends; instead he stumbles upon a vixen and becomes entangled in a
bizarre ghost web.
A Chinese film with
English subtitles; fullscreen format, uncut (103 min.), DVD encoded
for ALL REGION NTSC, playable on any American machine. Extras include
theatrical trailer.
Supernatural
Violence/Nudity/Sexual
Themes
For Mature Audiences
