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Superstar Lin Dai's furniture, fashion accessories, oil and photo portraits, award trophies, costumes and other precious archival materials are on display at the exhibition entitled "The Legend & The Beauty - An Archival Exhibition" from today (August 14) to November 1 at the Exhibition Hall of the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA).
Lin was a legendary figure in Hong Kong cinema, and after her premature death in 1964, her husband Lung Shun-shing kept furnishings and possessions in their room undisturbed for more than 40 years. Their son, Lung Tzong-hann donated Lin's personal artifacts to the HKFA after Mr Lung's death in 2007.
Guests attending tonight's (August 14) opening reception of the HKFA's new retrospective programme "The Legend & The Beauty - The Films of Lin Dai" include the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Chung Ling-hoi, Mr Lung Tzong-hann, actresses Fung Bo-bo, Susan Shaw Yin-yin, Tsin Ting and other film veterans.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Chung pointed out that the artifacts shown in the exhibition showcased the life and career of Lin Dai. The archival treasures were of great importance to cultural heritage and research on Hong Kong cinema, he said.
Lin Dai started her career in 1950. Her debut "Singing under the Moon" (1953) was a great success. The challenge to play the dual roles of a strong-willed songstress and a maiden from a rich family in "Golden Lotus" (1957) won her the first Best Actress Award at the 4th Asian Film Festival at the age of 23.
Lin's round, expressive eyes had been her distinct features since childhood. Her star shone brightly in a career that spanned only 14 years. She was as beautiful a star as she was versatile an actress, appearing endearingly gorgeous in vastly different roles, from historical beauties to village lasses to modern city girls and in ways wonderfully befitting to them.
The screen diva was not only a consummate actor with strong personality, but also a glamorous star in real life.
Apart from the exhibition, a selection of 18 titles featuring Lin's brilliant performances will also be shown from today to October 4 at the Cinema of the HKFA.
The films to be screened are Lin's portrayals of different historical beauties in "The Kingdom and the Beauty", "Beyond the Great Wall", "Diau Charn", "The Last Woman of Shang" and "Madam White Snake"; her early works "The Fisherman's Daughter", "Golden Phoenix" and "Golden Lotus" which won her the first Best Actress Award; city comedies "The Battle of Love", "Cinderella and Her Little Angels", "Les Belles", "Love Parade" and "Bachelors Beware"; city dramas "A Mellow Spring" and "Humiliation for Sale" and the popular romantic melodramas "Love without End", "The Blue and the Black" and "The Blue and the Black 2". A few tickets are still available for some of the films.
To supplement the screenings, a seminar titled "Lin Dai: The Star, the Actress, the Legend" will be held at 4.30pm on August 22 at the Cinema of the HKFA. Mr Lung Tzong-hann, actress Fung Bo-bo and writer Peter Dunn will share with audiences their views and personal experience with Lin Dai. It will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free.
The retrospective is organised with the generous support of Mr Lung Tzong-hann, actress Fung Bo-bo, Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Limited, Cathay-Keris Films Pte Ltd, Celestial Pictures Limited and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
Tickets priced at $30 for the screenings are available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Reservations can be made by phone on 2734 9009, or on the internet at www.urbtix.hk.
Detailed programme information and various discounts can be obtained in the "ProFolio 48" distributed at all performing venues of the LCSD. For enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900 or browse the websites: www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp.
Ends/Friday, August 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:45
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