In eighth-century China, the Emperor is grieving over the death of his wife. The Yang family wants to provide the Emperor with a consort so that they may consolidate their influence over the court. General An Lu Shan finds a distant relative working in their kitchen whom they groom to present to the Emperor. The Emperor falls in love with her and she becomes Princess Yang Kwei Fei. The Yangs are then appointed important ministers, though An Lu Shan is not given the court position he covets. The ministers misuse their power so much that there is a popular revolt against all the Yangs, fueled by An Lu Shan. (Source: IMDb) Edit Translation
- English
- magyar / magyar nyelv
- dansk
- Norsk
- Native Title: 楊貴妃
- Also Known As: Princess Yang Kwei-Fei , The Consort Yang Guifei , Yang Gui Fei , Yang Guifei , Yokihi
- Director: Mizoguchi Kenji
- Screenwriter: Yoda Yoshitaka, Narusawa Masashige, Kawaguchi Matsutaro
- Genres: Historical, Romance, Drama
Cast & Credits
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![Kyo Machiko in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie]( "Kyo Machiko in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie")
Kyo Machiko Main Role -
![Mori Masayuki in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie]( "Mori Masayuki in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie")
Mori Masayuki Main Role -
![Ai Michiko in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie]( "Ai Michiko in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie")
Ai MichikoHong HuaSupport Role -
![Murata Chieko in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie]( "Murata Chieko in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie")
Murata ChiekoLu HuaSupport Role -
![Kiritachi Noboru in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie]( "Kiritachi Noboru in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie")
Kiritachi NoboruCui HuaSupport Role -
![Yamagata Isao in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie]( "Yamagata Isao in Princess Yang Kwei Fei Japanese Movie")
Yamagata IsaoYang XianSupport Role
Photos
Reviews
Be careful what you wish for...
Princess Yang Kwei Fei was one of only two films Mizoguchi Kenji shot in color. Based on the lives of Tang Dynasty Emperor Xuanzong and his beloved consort Yang Yu Huan aka Yang Gui Fei, it covered their brief moments of happiness before a bloody uprising tore them asunder.This film was made in conjunction with Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers. Aside from Japanese being spoken which was jarring, it looked much like a SB film minus the sword fights and kung fu. This film would have benefited from a little wire-fu. Despite having famous actors in the main roles, the film was terribly dry. Gui Fei was shown to be a kind and caring consort. Xuanzong adored her and she helped him not feel like a bird in a suffocating gilded cage composed of regulations and schedules. The Yangs he appointed to important positions abused their power and angered the people and Imperial guard. An Lu Shan who had been responsible for introducing Gui Fei to the emperor resented not gaining an even more prominent position and coveted the throne for himself. Before long the music minded emperor had a revolt on his hands.
The acting by Kyo Machiko and Mori Masayuki was fine. The sets and music were fine. Perhaps the run time was too short to properly build the story. Why did the people come to hate the Yangs seemingly overnight? What was the treacherous Crown Prince up to, a character we never met? The emperor and his Gui Fei were together for around 11 years IRL but the movie made it seem as if it was a matter of days or weeks. This tragic love story deserved a more in-depth journey into their relationship and the complexity of the world around them. Princess Yang Kwei Fei was fine, but I expect more than fine from Mizoguchi.
16 August 2025
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