| 'The Yellow Muffler' (1971) is like soda pop and candy: it's sweet and tasty, but it's nothing new. I ate a "yellow muffler" today (the package claimed it was a "desert cup"); it tasted like a Twinkee, only without that tasty, white cream (don't go there, man!). 'The Yellow Muffler' is dated and formulaic as heck, but it's still loaded with color and fun. Umetsugu seems to borrow elements from 'Singing in the Rain', 'Lady for a Day' (Jackie Chan used elements from 'Lady for a Day' and 'Pocketful of Miracles' for 'Miracles'[1989]), and others. Two sisters, Nu Baihong (Betty Ting Pei) and Nu Qinping (Irene Chen Yi Ling), find work as extras at Crown Cinema studios (a reference to Shaws?)after seeing 'Hong Kong Nocturne' at the multiplex (Umetsugu is poking fun at himself by merging clips of 'HKN' with pans of the sisters in the audience). 'HKN' is remake of one of Umetsugu's own films back in Japan. Baihong and Qinping's sister, Ziying, travels with their father to Taiwan to try their luck in the entertainment industry. However, Baihong's father is losing his eyesight and he may have to become reliant on his daughters for care.
Paul Chun Pui portrays Father Nu's former assistant who is now a manager for Baihong and Qinping. Tsung Hua is second unit director, Jiang Xiliang, at Crown Cinema. Aside from having to deal with an overbearing director and stuck-up starlet You Ming (Ling Ling), Baihong and Qinping make friends with dozens of character-actors and technicians. Things aren't all bad for the Nu sisters. Yang Chi-ching co-stars as an eye doctor who is hired to try and restore Father Nu's vision. Jiang Xiliang wants to direct a musical starring Baihong, Qinping, and Ziying, but the egotistical director and You Ming think that a musical has no potential. The main exec at Crown Cinema is interested, but he could end up veto-ing the film. What's to become of Baihong, Qinping, Ziying, their entourage, and their dream project?
Irene Chen Yi Ling is one lovely, solid actress. She has a pair of large, sparkling eyes and a sweet smile. She retired from acting in the mid-seventies and she got married (typical of most starlets). She also appeared in 'Guess Who Killed My Twelve Lovers' as Chin Han's on-screen fiancee. Betty Ting Pei does a good job, as usual. I think this film was made before Bruce Lee suffered from a bad brain edema in her apartment (Lee later passed away and the rest is history). This one event seemed to tarnished her image. Ting Pei does manage to make Baihong sympathetic despite Baihong's one-dimensional character. What's the name of that adorable actress who portrays Ziying? If anyone knows, please e-mail me with an answer. Aside from being a very formulaic and dated film, 'The Yellow Muffler' is still fun! |
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