Mr Griffin Yue Feng

1909-1999

Director

Also known as Da Zichun and by his pseudonym Ge Ruifen, Griffin Yue Feng joined Shanghai’s film industry in 1929, whereupon he made a name for himself helming  Angry Tides of China’s Seas(1933) and Refugees (1935). Yue settled down in Hong Kong in 1949 and went on to make more than 80 films for various studios. He joined Great Wall studio at Zhang Shankun’s invitation and shot A Forgotten Woman (1949) and Blood Will Tell (1949). He also directed Rainbow as You Wish (1953), the last film in Hong Kong to star legendary singer and actress Zhou Xuan. In 1953, Yue founded Dafang Film Company, which shot A Love Story (1954). For MP & GI, he made classics Golden Lotus (1957), The Battle of Love (1957) and For Better, For Worse (1959). In 1959, Yue joined Shaw Brothers, where he remained until his retirement in 1974. The Deformed (1960) and Bitter Sweet (1963) garnered Best Screenplay at both the Asian Film Festival and the Golden Horse Awards. Yue subsequently shot a series of Huangmeidiao opera films such as Madame White Snake (1962) and Lady General Hua Mulan (1964). Yue directed more than 100 films in his career; his name was closely associated with sophisticated cinematic techniques and engaging romantic drama. He was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild in 1991.