Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955)

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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