The Last Aristocrats

The Last Aristocrats (Chinese: 最后的贵族) is a 1989 Chinese drama film directed by Xie Jin and starring Pan Hong, Pu Cunxin, Li Kequn, and Xiao Xiong.[1] It is base on the short story Zhexianji by Taiwanese novelist Bai Xianyong. The film picks up the story of the lives of four young Chinese girls, daughters of Shanghai’s elite, who went to the United States to study in 1948 and faced difficulties trying to return home a year later.[2] The film was released in South Korea on 23 December 1989.[3]

The Last Aristocrats
Traditional最後的貴族
Simplified最后的贵族
MandarinZuìhòudě Guìzú
Directed byXie Jin
Produced byBi Likui
Su Rundong
Written byBai Hua
Sun Zhengguo
Pai Hsien-Yung
Based onZhexianji by Pai Hsien-yung
StarringPan Hong
Pu Cunxin
Li Kequn
Xiao Xiong
Music byJin Fuzai
CinematographyLu Junfu
Edited byZhou Dingwen
Production
company
Distributed byShanghai Film Studio
Release date
Running time
120 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin

Plot

In the spring of 1947 in Nanjing, Jiangsu, Li Tong (Pan Hong) spends her twenty birthday in a happy atmosphere. Then she pursues advanced studies in the United States with her friends Huang Huifen (Li Kequn), Lei Zhiling (Xiao Xiong) and Zhang Jiaxing (Lu Ling). The four young girls are daughters of Shanghai's elite. Li Tong's father (Wang Bing) is a diplomat in the Nationalist Government.

When the Communists take over Shanghai in 1948, Li Tong's parents dies in a storm on their way to Taiwan. Li Tong's boy friend Chen Yin (Pu Cunxin), a graduate of Harvard University, finds a job as a lawyer. They celebrate the happy event in the restaurant. After hearing the tragic news, Li Tong becomes more and more melancholy. She leaves quietly disappear without a trace.

Three years later, Li Tong appeares at Zhang Jiaxing's wedding, her heavy make-up makes her friends mixed feelings.

Before long, Chen Yin learns by newspaper that Li Tong was arrested by the police after her drinking and rioting. Chen Yin goes to the police station to bail her out and takes her home, and persuades her to cheer up, but she has lost her soul.

Another spring, after travelling around the world, Li Tong comes to her birthplace Venice, throws herself into the sea.

Cast
  • Pan Hong as Li Tong (李彤)
  • Pu Cunxin as Chen Yin (陳寅)
  • Li Kequn as Huang Huifen (黃慧芬)
  • Xiao Xiong as Lei Zhiling (雷芷苓)
  • Lu Ling as Zhang Jiaxing (張嘉行)
  • Lisa Lu as Li Tong's mother
  • Wang Bing as Li Tong's father
  • Li Weixin as Huang Huifen's father
  • Yan Meiyi as Huang Huifen's mother
  • Yan Bide as Zhang Jiaxing's father
  • Zhu Xijuan as Zhang Jiaxing's mother
  • Ying Da as Zhou Daqing (周大慶)
  • Mao Yongming as Doctor Wang (王醫生), husband of Zhang Jiaxing
  • Ma Xiaofeng as Zhang Jiaxing's brother
  • Marcelline Block as Christmas caroler
  • Amy Yen-Lung Chen as Lily
  • Amy Chow as Cashier
  • Hong Tran as Dim Sum cook
  • Lynn Ann Guisti as Distressed child
  • Alice Liu as Wife

Production

On April 26, 1987, Xie Jin and Pai Hsien-yung met at the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, they talked about changing the short story Zhexianji (謫仙記) into a movie. Brigitte Lin had been considered to star as Li Tong, the female lead role in the film, but at that time the relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait had not been thawing, she was recognized by reporters at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, and under the pressure of the authorities, she had to give up acting the movie. Her role was replaced by mainland actress Pan Hong.[4][5]

Two-thirds of the film was shot on location in the United States. The film wrapped in May 1989.[4]

Release

The film was released on 23 December 1989 in South Korea and received negative reviews.[4]

References
  1. Su Guang (29 October 2015). "Xie Jin: The Film Master of Contemporary China". youlinmagazine. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  2. Tan Weiyun (31 January 2018). "Iconic director who blazed a trail in celluloid". Shanghaidaily. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. 资料：导演谢晋作品之《最后的贵族》. CCTV (in Chinese). 2008-10-18.
  4. 林青霞曾遗憾错过电影《最后的贵族》(图). Chinanews (in Chinese). 2014-11-28.
  5. 谢晋曾大骂潘虹混蛋 林青霞憾别“贵族”. 163.com (in Chinese). 2009-12-14.
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