Film
Movie theaters, reviews and showtimes in New York, plus articles, trailers and more
- Home
- Box Office
- Listings
- Trailers
- Features
Bookmark this page- Edition:
The Empress Yang Kwei Fei (1955)
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Mizoguchi's first film in colour is set in 8th century China during the latter years of the T'ang dynasty, and contrasts the 'pure' love story of Emperor Huan Tsung and his mistress Yang Kwei Fei with the corruption and opportunism rife in the imperial court. Those who find Mizoguchi's later films guilty of arid formulism will find fuel for their arguments here. The director's lifelong preoccupation with the position of women in feudal society is undoubtedly diminished by the idealised treatment of his heroine, while the depiction of members of her family seeking preferment and promotion within the court often borders on caricature. On the other hand, there are sequences of stunning beauty, notably Yang Kwei Fei's execution scene (accompanied by some terrific music).Author: RM
Cast & crew
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Producer: Masaichi Nagata, Run Run Shaw
Cast: Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, So Yamamura, Eitaro Shindo, Sakae Ozawa full cast
Genre(s): Period/Swashbucklers
Duration: 98 mins
Most popular on this site
Features
War is cel
Ari Folman uses an unconventional format to unearth repressed memories in Waltz with Bashir.
The best (and worst) of 2008
Our critics' picks.
That '70s show
Michael Sheen re-creates one half of a cunning TV conversation.
I'm officially obsessed with...
Gay for pay.
From here to maternity
Catherine Deneuve, belle maman, reigns in A Christmas Tale.
What do you think?
Post your review now