The Happy Trio: Viewer Comments

'The Happy Trio' (1975)is bittersweet redemption for Li Ching in this gritty, satirical comedy/melodrama from director John Lo Mar. In 1973 and 1974, Li appeared in sleazy, sub-par flicks like 'Sexy Girls of Denmark' and 'Sexy Playgirls'. In 'The Happy Trio', Li is Ah Jiao, a rural country girl from the Chinese mainland. Upon arriving in Hong Kong, she searches for her aunt...with no luck. While sitting on a park bench, she meets a simple-minded, yet kind blue-collar worker named Blockhead (Yeh Feng). Blockhead helps Ah Jiao find a room to rent; one of their neighbors is a wise, elderly, retired opera singer known as "Uncle" (Wang Sha). While singing songs on the street, Ah Jiao's gift is discovered by a talent scout. As the talent scout turns Ah Jiao into mega-pop star Diana, Ah Jiao starts to drift away from Blockhead and Uncle. What's to become of the three central characters...and will their friendship survive in this harsh, dog-eat-dog world?

Fans of melodramatic "weepies" may dig this film. There are scenes where Ah Jiao, Blockhead, and Uncle have to look hopelessness, adversity, and despair right in the face! John Lo Mar somehow succeeds in making us care about the three leads.

To take some of the edge off the drama, the director uses some witty humor. There's a "Pygmalion" scene where the talent scout's staff transforms Ah Jiao into a socialite:

'HT' is made in the HK Chinese idiom, but its plot manages to be decipherable. 'HT' also has a dated 1970's look and stock music from 'Shaft' (1971). Some people these days have trouble watching a movie made prior to their date of birth!

'HT' is the kind of film that could turn off some viewers. I noticed that the theme song from 'Mr. Funny Bone/Lo Fu Ji' (1976) and one of Diana's pop songs have the same rhythm. Interesting. 'The Happy Trio' is a solid film that deserves a place in one's Li Ching film library...or a video rental, at least (if one can find a video store that carries it).