Machiko Kyō and Masayuki Mori star in the stunning historical drama, Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955), available for streaming on Filmstruck.
This is a Japanese film based on the beautiful poem "The Song of Everlasting Regret", written by Bai Juyi, which details the relationship between Emperor Xuanzong (Masayuki Mori) and serving girl Yuahan Kwei-Fei (Machiko Kyō) during the Tang Dynasty (6th century).
The emperor - still mourning the loss of his beloved wife - has become neglectful of his duties, which causes much concern with his ministers. In an effort to make him forget his sorrow, the ministers begin a search for a shiny new concubine whom they hope will prove just the thing to set him straight.
In their search they discover a serving girl who just happens to be the spitting image of the emperor's late wife, so she is immediately dolled up and presented to the emperor. At first he is uninterested and a bit peeved at such an obvious manipulation, but as time passes he comes to care for her and before long the two are in love. As the story unfolds their happiness is threatened by political upheaval, corruption and misguided loyalties, which ultimately lead to tragedy.
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and co-produced by Japan's Daiei Film and Hong Kong's Shaw & Sons, Princess Yang Kwei-Fei was released in 1955. This is one of Mizoguchi's final films (followed only by Street of Shame in 1956) and is one of just two films he shot in color. The film is gorgeous in every way and the period costumes and decor of the time especially benefit from the director's choice to film in color.
Both Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō were prolific actors during the 1950's and the two had starred together in another Mizoguchi film two years earlier, the fantastically unsettling drama/ghost story Ugetsu (1953). Their performances in Princess Yang Kwei-Fei are understated yet incredibly moving.
Also among the talented cast are Mizoguchi favorite Eitarô Shindô, along with Sô Yamamura and Haruko Sugimura, who appeared in many of Yasujirō Ozu's films.
(By the way, if you're interested in reading the poem on which the film is based, you can find one translation here.)
