The Empress Dowager | |
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Traditional | 傾國傾城 |
Simplified | 倾国倾城 |
Mandarin | Qīng Guó Qīng Chéng |
Cantonese | King1 Gwok3 King1 Sing4 |
Directed by | Li Han-hsiang |
Produced by | Runme Shaw |
Written by | Li Han-hsiang |
Starring |
Lisa Lu Ti Lung |
Music by | Frankie Chan |
Cinematography | Lam Chiu |
Edited by | Chiang Hsing-lung |
Production
company |
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Distributed by | Shaw Brothers Studio |
Release date
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Running time
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165 minutes |
Country | Hong Kong |
Language | Mandarin |
The Empress Dowager is a 1975 Hong Kong historical film directed by Li Han-hsiang and produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, starring Lisa Lu as Empress Dowager Cixi.
Although the Empress Dowager Tzu-hsi of the Ching Dynasty had promised her nephew, Emperor Kuang-hsu that he had complete autonomy, he found that this was not the case as he attempted to exert his authority over corrupt eunuchs and officials who undermined him with the backing of the Empress Dowager. Young, inexperienced and without a strong cadre of loyal officials to support him, he tries to juggle affairs both public and private. His loveless marriage to Empress Chin Feng and dislike of the Empress further leaves him all the more bereft of any power lever. His only bright spark in a cold gloomy palace was his love for Concubine Chen and a young eunuch who wholeheartedly supports him.