Director Li Han-hsiang left Shaw Brothers in
the early 1960s after helming some of their most successful films in order
to set up his own production company in Taiwan. About ten years later after
financial difficulties he returned to Shaw. This time though rather than
directing big epic period films, he made a number of ribald films with bits
of nudity and naughty themes in them as well as other typical Shaw fare.
Some of these titles are Legends of Lust, Illicit Desire, Sinful Confession
and Sensual Pleasure. These films would have been impossible in the 1960s
but with the 70s, Shaw joined the rest of the cinematic world in adding sex
and nudity. They sold. Li was able to still place most of these films in
period settings, but they are a long way from his earlier stately Shaw films.
This one is broken into four short films
and none of them are worth your time. Nudity doesn't bring in the crowds
any longer and it is definitely not enough to keep this film interesting.
Enough moaning and groaning and simulated sex that I began fast forwarding
through by the third one. Li still had enough of a reputation though that
he was able to get a solid cast in this. In the first segment Yang Chi-ching
has four concubines in his compound and he visits them all separately on
nights. Clearly, he is a master of something because each one bites their
lips. Not a bad foursome - Terry Lau, Angela Yu-chien, Chen Ping and Li Ching.
One of his servants (Chung Wah) observes what is going on and decides to
get in on it by disguising himself as Yang. When four babies are born all
resembling him, trouble is in his forecast.
The second takes place in Japan among some
colorful festivities - the wife of Ku Feng (RIP) is having an affair with
Wang Hsieh and she has to hide him in a large jar. The location in the third
part moves to Korea in ancient times. Yueh Hua has an affair with a female
drummer (Lee Hye-sook) but has to leave for a year. When he returns, she
has married Tin Ching but they continue their affair. In the bed next to
his sleeping figure. And finally in the fourth Hu Chin is cheating on her
husband with anyone that is willing. Not sure exactly what the point of these
short films are other than perhaps saying adultery happens everywhere when
men and women are in proximity. Very dull. Watched on VCD,
