Blu-Ray Review: 88 Films’ The Golden Lotus (88 Asia Collection)

The Golden Lotus departs from 88 Films’ normal martial arts action releases to give us a saucy film about a masochistic Prince and his harem of wives.  New to Blu-ray. 

The Film 

It isn’t shocking that the Shaw Brothers made a saucy movie.  The Shaw Brothers loved money and made movies with the trends.  They definitely put their best foot forward with The Golden Lotus basing the film on a famous novel of the same name.  There is something alternately classy and trashy about the film – which feels attributed greatly to writer/director Li Han-hsiang’s adaptation and direction.  

Yes, yes, yes, Jackie Chan is in the film but his role is so minor that, no spoiler here, he is murdered by the main character’s Ximen Qing (Peter Yang) henchmen.  In fact, it is very odd that Chan is in the film as there is no martial arts or comedy (well, Chan’s brand of comedy) but one must consider this is his first or one of his first roles.  The Shaw’s company just told him where to go.  

That considered, The Golden Lotus is an intriguing mixture of Palace/House Intrigue with Sexual Power Dynamics that elevates the film beyond what most would consider “smutty”.  That isn’t to say that the sexy scenes are coy, they are not in the least, in fact, Li Han-Hsiang pushed these scenes as far as he could during the time (it was released in January of 1974).  It does not reach the explicitness of Last Tango in Paris, though it is not that isn’t to say the film is prudish with its sexuality.  

The interesting part is how much the frail male ego plays a part in the film with Ximen Qing the kind of critic the film makes of his constant need to abuse women, beyond sexually, to stoke the flames of his ego.  The Golden Lotus never in fact condones anything that Ximen Qing does, it does allow the dramaturgy of it all to play out and show what happens to men like Ximen Qing.  

The Golden Lotus is by no means progressive, though it is a fascinating examination of the power dynamics and sexual politics of the time. 

The Transfer

The transfer provided is one of the Celestial Pictures transfers, so the original coloring and titles have been replaced by newer cleaner ones.  The handsome sharp image is as clean and flawless as the day it was produced. Many will critique the grading on the transfers but what we get in return and the fidelity of the image is just too good in a way that any of the Shaw Bros Studio films have looked.  The Golden Lotus was a stage-bound production and the perfection of the stage lighting and photography is only more refined here in high definition. 88 Films continues its vital work of curating Asian Genre films both popular and obscure.  

The Extras

They include the following;

• Original Trailer
• Stills Gallery 

Original Trailer (2:29) – Chinese with English Subtitles. 

Stills Gallery (2:39) – the still gallery consists of 20 production stills that automatically plays with the score from the film.  One can navigate the gallery by using your remote’s next and back chapter stop buttons. 

The Final Thought 

The Golden Lotus is a curiosity that will find man a fan in the Asian Genre Film fandom.  Recommended. 

88 Films’ Blu-Ray edition of The Golden Lotus is out now