Asian Cult Cinema: Worldwide Exploitation Films and DVDs

HAUNTED [Ghost Stories of Pu Songling](1967) Chathay Studio

4112DVD

Three Lavish Ghost Stories based on Pu Songling Tales

Original Chinese/Hong Kong Title: LIA ZHAI ZHI YI XU JI [Ghost Stories from a Chinese Parlor]
also translated as GHOST STORIES FROM A CHINESE STUDIO
also known as THE HAUNTED

director: Tang Huang
starring: Annette Chang Hui Hsien · Yang Chang · Julie Yeh Feng · Nan Chiang · Chien Yung-Yung

Here's a remarkably rare film from Cathay Studios based on three classic ghost stories written by 18th century Chinese author Pu Songling. The first is Pian Pian, in which deadbeat, womanizing husband Zifu shows no signs of repentance even after his wife offers the last of her savings for him to restructure his life. In the second story, Judge Lu, a man named Zhu uses magical powers to achieve top marks in the Imperial Exams but faces disaster as a result. And the third, Guan Yan is Rescued by Fairies, a student is blinded in an attempt to save the lotus fairy from a sorcerer.

This is an exceptional project from the Cathay Organisation, a HK/Taiwanese studio that was the main competition to Shaw Bros throughout the sixties and seventies. While Run Run Shaw concentrated more on martial arts and less on horror, Cathay did essentially the opposite. They would produce mostly thrillers and musical comedies. This film - along with DEVIL'S SKIN and THE SPIRITS (which was also directed by Tang Huang) - is a legendary example of their vision for ghost cinema. All three films are based on the writings of China's revered author Pu Songling, an 18th century writer who penned over 400 ghost stories.

Director Tang Huang was one of the godfather's of Chinese Cinema, directing 50+ films between 1949 and 1973. He died from a heart attack in September 1976 at age 60.

A Hong Kong/Chinese production with good English subtitles over existing Chinese titles;
fullscreen format, fully uncut 112 minutes, encoded for ALL REGION NTSC,
playable on any American machine. Extras include theatrical trailer.

Violence/Sexual Situations
for Mature Audiences

$19.95