After recently viewing the superb Zhan shi yan dao/ The Venus Tear Diamond(1971) (that I also reviewed) I looked around online for trivia. From the few spots of info around on the flick,I saw comparisons made to another rare Shaw Brothers Musical Caper. Getting very lucky and guided towards this title, (with Eng Subs!) I sat down to hear the thief sing.
View on the film:
Swooning round the opening music number like a Pop-star pin-up,Jimmy Lin Chong gives a sparkling turn as 'Diamond' Pan,thanks to Chong's slick charisma fitting that of a gentlemen thief, while offering a believability to "Diamond" putting his thieving days behind and becoming a singer. Suspecting he still has a sparkle in his eyes for robbery, pretty Lily Ho gives an elegant twist as heiress Darling Fang, who is unable to resist the temptation of "Diamond" being a dangerous thief.Departing from the Martial Arts creations they had done for Shaw Brothers in the past, director Cheh Chang & cinematographer Mu-To Kung wonderfully criss-cross Musical numbers with spy Caper thrills and scatter-gun Kung-Fu action.
Keeping "Diamond's" robbery past an open secret, Chang shines an ultra-stylised light over the jewels in Diamond's life which shimmer in glittery kitsch yellows, greens and pinks being sprayed on the dance floor and his bedroom wall, along with distorted corner shots tracking a copycat thief from Diamond's view. Holding the hearts and diamonds that he has stolen, the screenplay by Kang Chien Chiu spins a comedic playfulness from Diamond being a charmer who outwits the police at every turn. Rolling in double crosses as Diamond tries to catch a copycat thief, Chiu loses focus by trying to to bring gangs into the action, which leads to a final where the motives remain somewhat vague, yet can't take the shine off a Diamond geezer.
View on the film:
Swooning round the opening music number like a Pop-star pin-up,Jimmy Lin Chong gives a sparkling turn as 'Diamond' Pan,thanks to Chong's slick charisma fitting that of a gentlemen thief, while offering a believability to "Diamond" putting his thieving days behind and becoming a singer. Suspecting he still has a sparkle in his eyes for robbery, pretty Lily Ho gives an elegant twist as heiress Darling Fang, who is unable to resist the temptation of "Diamond" being a dangerous thief.Departing from the Martial Arts creations they had done for Shaw Brothers in the past, director Cheh Chang & cinematographer Mu-To Kung wonderfully criss-cross Musical numbers with spy Caper thrills and scatter-gun Kung-Fu action.
Keeping "Diamond's" robbery past an open secret, Chang shines an ultra-stylised light over the jewels in Diamond's life which shimmer in glittery kitsch yellows, greens and pinks being sprayed on the dance floor and his bedroom wall, along with distorted corner shots tracking a copycat thief from Diamond's view. Holding the hearts and diamonds that he has stolen, the screenplay by Kang Chien Chiu spins a comedic playfulness from Diamond being a charmer who outwits the police at every turn. Rolling in double crosses as Diamond tries to catch a copycat thief, Chiu loses focus by trying to to bring gangs into the action, which leads to a final where the motives remain somewhat vague, yet can't take the shine off a Diamond geezer.