Gratuitous pic of CYF and Jasmine looking good together. From an article in the Singapore Women's Weekly a few months ago. Courteously scanned in for me by L.P.!
Gratuitous pic of CYF and Jasmine looking good together. From an article in the Singapore Women's Weekly a few months ago. Courteously scanned in for me by L.P.!
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Go To 1998 News:Note: In addition, major articles and interviews with CYF are listed here. Back to The World is Read |
November 1998:
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CHOW YUN-FAT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ACCUSATIONS
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From the Apple Daily of November 26th. Many thanks to Sanney for translating the article and circulating it! Chow Yun-Fat and Fat-So (Chan Wui-Lin) are clearly in love. It's evident to all who see them. As a result, no rumours arise about their marriage. Even less is said about Fat-Jai's former loves, Chan Yuk-Lin and, his first wife, Yu On-On. However, lately Yu On-On has publicly stated that Chow does not pay support payments and Yu's current husband, Chan Man-Kei has chided Chow for not realizing what he gave up. To these statements, Chow Yun-Fat has decided to take the high road. He is treating the statements like billionaire Lee Ka-Sing treated the whole Cheung Chi-Keung affair (Big Spender hostage case). Chow said, "I haven't talked about this in the past. I won't talk about it today. I won't talk about it in the future." In related news, eight years ago, Mabel Cheung Yuen-Ting had a script called AH CHOI DIK JUEN KEI (trans. ALL ABOUT AH CHOI) that she hoped would be developed into a film with Chow, Gong Li, and Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk. However, negotiations were never finalized and the film did not develop. Still, eight years later, Mabel Cheung remains passionate about the film. She has recently had the script translated into English and hopes that this would entice Chow to appear in it. Chow said that he is pleased with the script and hopes that things can be worked out so that he and Mabel Cheung can work together once again. |
Attending the Frances Yip concert
Blurb from the Apple Daily of November 22nd. Courteously translated and transcribed by Sanney, and circulated by John Charles.
Chow Yun-Fat and Fat-So attend the Yip Lai-Yee concert at the Hong Kong Convention Centre on Saturday night. Yip (the singer of the theme from SHANGHAI BEACH) had some of her thunder stolen when fans mobbed Chow for photos and autographs.
'King and I' remake drops Thai location
By AP for the Hong Kong Standard Entertainment section of November 20th, 1998.
FRUSTRATED by official disapproval over its script, 20th Century Fox has announced it is dropping Thailand from plans to shoot
new versions of the King and I and Anna and the King of Siam on location.
Fox said in a statement that shooting for the remake of the classic films will instead be shifted to neighbouring Malaysia.
The Thai Film Board has twice turned down scripts for the proposed film, saying they were disrespectful of the 19th century ruler King Mongkut and the monarchy of Siam, as Thailand was then known.
The remake stars Oscar-winner Jodie Foster in the role of Anna Leonowens, the Victorian governess Mongkut hired to teach his children English, and Hong Kong action star Chow Yun-fat as the king.
Fox's statement expressed regret over "excessive bureaucracy and political red-tape. This decision to move production was not made with any disrespect or outrage".
"The simple truth is that time has run out," Fox said. "In an effort to avoid costly delays that could undermine the entire project, the studio has exercised its ability to change locations."
Thais highly revere their monarchy and feel previous versions of the story, based on Leonowens' disputed memoirs, portray Mongkut as a brutal buffoon rather than the linguist and Buddhist scholar he was.
Insulting the monarchy remains a crime that carries a prison term of three to 15 years. The current king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the world's longest reigning monarch, with 52 years on the throne.
Though the 1946 version, starring Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne, was screened in Thailand, the film of the Broadway musical starring Yul Brynner a decade later was banned. No local film showing any of the nine kings of the current dynasty has ever been made.
Fox tried to adapt the current script to get the film made in Thailand, but industry insiders said after it was rejected for a second time last week that the Film Board was unlikely ever to approve it.
An official said the body had nothing to do with Fox's decision to move.
Thais feel that Leonowens exaggerated her memoirs to give herself a central place in the Siamese court and that in reality the king probably met her only once. The King and I scenes where Deborah Kerr dances with Brynner rankles them as demeaning and
silly.
King role rewritten for Thais
By Greg Torode for the SCMP of November 13th. Many thanks to Lisa R.R. for forwarding me the URL!
The legacy of Yul Brynner is taking a pounding as scriptwriters rewrite his part in the King and I in a last-ditch bid to appease Thai authorities.
Thai advisers were yesterday in Los Angeles at 20th Century Fox urgently trying to make Chow Yun-fat's updated King Mongkut character less eccentric, flirtatious and comical, industry sources said.
''We need to come up with a more heroic and statesmanlike version for Chow than the king made famous by Brynner,'' one adviser said.
''He will have a full head of hair for a start. And he will be serious, clever and stern.''
The bald Brynner never wore a wig in the long-running Broadway smash or the 1956 cinema classic that catapulted him to stardom and won him an Oscar.
Thailand banned the film and the musical and has so far scotched attempts to allow Fox to film the updated Anna and the King on Thai soil.
Fox had begun pre-production work in Kuching, Malaysia, but would switch back to Bangkok if speedy approval can be granted by Thailand, said Sorajak Kasemsuvan, a spokesman for the Thai co-ordinators.
Thais Keep `King' Out of Country; Filming of remake will move to Malaysia
By Evelyn Iritani and Marla Matzer for the SF Chronicle of November 12th. Many thanks to John Charles for circulating the URL!
The full text of the article is online here. A lot of it has been covered elsewhere, but I particularly appreciated the thorough review of the problems with the original script, the casting (CYF himself is offensive, apparently!), and changes that have been made.
The Thai government objected to Hollywood's portrayal of Leonowens as a pivotal figure who introduced sophisticated Western ideas to an arrogant and ignorant king and his household, said Prathoomporn Vajrasthira, an international-relations specialist at Chulalongkom University in Bangkok.
Prathoomporn said King Rama IV, to the contrary, was a brilliant man who imported Western teachers because he believed that knowledge was his country's best defense against the encroaching world. King Rama IV, who signed the nation's first trade treaty with Britain, is credited with opening up the long-isolated nation.
``Hollywood was successful in ridiculing Asian kings by having (King Rama IV) portrayed as a selfcentered tyrant with a limited knowledge of the world whose eyes were opened by this Western lady,'' she said. ``But Anna was nothing. She was poor and not even that well-educated.''
Thipavadee Manyati, director of the Thai Film Board, said even Fox's decision to cast Chow, an actor best known for his portrayals of gun-toting gangsters, showed a lack of sensitivity to the royal family. Poking fun at the king carries a punishment of three to 15 years in prison in Thailand.
The original script portrayed King Rama IV as a playboy surrounded by beautiful women, a depiction that would have deeply offended the Thai people, according to Malinee Chakrabandhu, a great-granddaughter of the king who tried to help Fox win approval for the project. But in response to early criticism, Fox hired a Thai historian to advise producer Lawrence Bender and even agreed to allow a Thai consultant into the editing room.
Malinee said the script has been dramatically improved, though a few minor inaccuracies remain. She described a scene where the king dances with the governess, an event that would not have happened because he was not allowed to touch anyone except his wives and royal concubines.
Fox plans "Anna and the King" shoot in Malaysia
And many thanks to Louis for forwarding me this article!
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 (Reuters) - "Anna and the King of Siam" are skipping town.
Twentieth Century Fox said Wednesday its new film version of "The King and I" will be shot in Malaysia instead of Thailand, where the story takes place, because a Thai government agency
objected that the script misinterpreted history.
The studio's film "Anna and the King," starring Jodie Foster and Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat, retells the story of the 19th Century Englishwoman, Anna Leonowens, who went to Siam to teach in the court of King Rama IV, a tale made famous in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "The King and I."
Thailand, formerly known as Siam, stands to lose millions of dollars that would have been generated by making the film there.
The Thai National Film Board turned down several versions of Fox's story, apparently because Leonowens, rather than the king, is characterised as the pivotal figure who introduced
Western ideology to the country.
A Fox spokeswoman said it became apparent about a month ago that the Thai government would not allow filming. "At that time, we started pursuing other locations," she said.
King Rama IV, a reformer, is revered by many Thais as the founder of a golden era of Buddhism in Thailand.
Thailand also banned "The King and I," for which the late Yul Brynner won an Oscar in 1956, because Brynner at one point portrayed the king eating with chopsticks rather than a spoon.
Still, some Thai officials argued in favour of the new film because of the potential revenue for the cash-strapped economy.
Thailand's constitution prescribes long jail terms for acts that would put the monarchy in an unfavourable light.
"Anna and the King" is not the only Fox project to run into problems in Thailand.
Environmentalists have protested against plans to film "The Beach," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, on an island in the south of the country because it would involve moving trees and plants in the national park. But the film board has said the filming of that movie can
go ahead.
Hollywood still clowning round with king, say Thais
By Greg Torode for the SCMP of November 10th. And many thanks to John Charles for circulating the URL!
GREG TORODE in Bangkok
The Thai Film Board last night rejected 20th Century Fox's latest - and possibly final - proposal for shooting a remake of the cinema classic The King and I, starring Chow Yun-fat.
It said Chow's planned role still portrayed the revered King Mongkut as a clown.
"The new script is still too close to the original," said board chairman Prasit Damrongchai after refusing to allow the remake, Anna and the King, to be filmed on Thai soil.
"We cannot accept the depiction of a Thai king who brought such great benefits to his people as a clown who learned everything from a foreign lady."
The 1956 version was based on the now-disputed memoirs of a prim English teacher, Anna Leonowens, and her relationship with King Mongkut in the royal court of the 19th century.
The board said it would only accept a fifth version of the script if "historic inaccuracies" were corrected - chiefly watering down the suggestion of a close relationship between the pair, a bond that cuts to the heart of the original story.
A dejected project co-ordinator, Supinda Chakraband, emerged from the meeting warning that Fox might not have time to come up with a new draft as Jodie Foster - set to play Leonowens - had a very tight schedule.
"Thailand may have lost a great opportunity if Fox now decides to go elsewhere," said Ms Supinda, a distant royal relative.
Thailand Nixes 'King and I' Remake
By Associated Press for the New York Times. And many thanks to Lisa R.-R. for circulating the URL!
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Jodie Foster may never get a chance to whistle a happy tune in Thailand as the starchy English governess in a new film version of the story that inspired the musical ``The King and I.''
The country's Film Board refused Monday to let 20th Century Fox film its ``Anna and the King'' on location in Thailand, maintaining it insults their revered King Mongkut and portrays him as a brutal buffoon.
The board said script revisions submitted by Fox don't go far
enough in changing what it insists are historical inaccuracies
about Mongkut, the 19th century ruler of the country then known as
Siam.
In Thailand, where insulting the monarchy is punishable by three to 15 years in prison, Mongkut is revered as a Buddhist scholar and linguist who helped bring his country into the modern era.
The film, starring Foster and Hong Kong star Chow Yun Fat, is a remake of the 1946 film ``Anna and the King of Siam,'' starring Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne.
It later became a Broadway musical and 1956 film, ``The King and I,'' -- making Yul Brynner a major star with his memorable waltz scene with Deborah Kerr, as Anna, to the strains of ``Shall We Dance.'' The musical version also created such hits as ``I Whistle a Happy Tune'' and ``Hello Young Lovers.''
Although the 1946 film was screened in Thailand, the musical version remains banned to this day -- even though the present Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has said he finds it entertaining.
The films were based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, an Englishwoman invited to the court of Siam to teach English to King Mongkut's children -- and which the Thai authorities maintain is a historically flawed protrayal of the king as an untutored savage.
On Monday, the board concluded that changes made to the script by Hollywood screenwriter Laurence Blender, with the help of a Thai historian, still approach the subject of Mongkut from the perspective of Leonowens' disputed memoirs and Margaret Landon's 1943 book based on them, ``Anna and the King of Siam.''
``It still has the potential to insult the monarchy,'' said Prasit Damrongchai, the board's president. ``We cannot accept the script as presented today. There are some inaccuracies that need to be changed.''
Supinda Chacraband, an adviser to Fox, said the company can't wait much longer and would make a decision by Friday whether to drop Thailand and shoot the location scenes in neighboring Malaysia instead.
Although the Thai authorities said Fox could resubmit the script, Supinda said it would be nearly impossible to reach a compromise.
``Frankly speaking, the chances of getting an approval from the Thai government film board are very bleak,'' Supinda said.
Supinda noted that the only chance Thailand has of influencing the script -- and how much of the world will view Mongkut -- will be lost if the film makers go to Malaysia.
Thai official backs King and I remake
By Greg Torode for the SCMP of November 5th. And many thanks to John Charles for circulating the URL!
GREG TORODE in Bangkok
Thailand yesterday hinted at a softening of opposition to allowing a remake of Yul Brynner's cinema classic The King and I to take place on Thai soil.
Pitak Intrawithayanunt, a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, became the first senior official to back the movie ahead of next week's meeting of the Thai Film Board to review a revised script.
"If they film here we can supervise and check the accuracy or even change the script," Mr Pitak said at Government House. "It could be worse if the film is shot in another country.'
Government sources said Mr Pitak was giving a personal opinion and no official position had been taken on the movie because the Film Board was yet to make its final decision.
Chow Yun-fat has been selected by 20th Century Fox to play revered 19th century Thai monarch King Mongkut alongside American Oscar winner Jodie Foster in Anna and the King - a film based on the hotly disputed experiences of a 19th century English governess in the royal court.
The Film Board, a body closely tied to the ruling Thai establishment, three weeks ago rejected an application to film in Thailand.
The new script was still far too close to the long-banned original that ran foul of Thailand's strict lese-majesty laws which demand jail terms for any act that wounds the monarchy, officials warned.
Privately, officials have told the South China Morning Post the remake has little chance of acceptance given "wild inaccuracies" in the original stories of governess Anna Leonowens that have become gospel in the West.
The late Yul Brynner's 1956 portrayal of King Mongkut as an exotic eccentric was at odds with the Thai view of the monarch as visionary moderniser and devout Buddhist scholar.
Tourism boss wants 'Anna and the King' in Thailand
Reuters/Variety news report. Posted to a.a-m. by Sang, and courteously forwarded to me by Jeff Koga and Cassie.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A remake of the classic movie "The King and I" should be filmed in Thailand, despite objections that the script is insulting to the Thai monarchy, the country's minister responsible for tourism said on Wednesday.
"For myself, I would prefer to have Fox film 'Anna and the King' here," Pitak Intaraviriyanant, a minister of the prime minister's office, told reporters.
"Having them film here will mean we can have a thorough look at the script and urge them to cooperate in changing unsuitable parts."
Fox, a division of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, has plans to make two movies in Thailand, "The Beach" and "Anna and the King." The former has been approved but the National Film Board has rejected a draft script of "Anna and the King" on the grounds that it is inaccurate and insulting to the monarchy, which enjoys the fervent respect of Thais.
The planned film, starring U.S. actress Jodie Foster and Hong Kong actor Chow
Yun-Fat, is based on the experiences of Englishwoman Anna Leonowens in the court of the 19th century King Mongkut, or Rama IV.
Thailand banned "The King and I," a version of the story for which the late Yul Brynner won an Oscar in 1956. Among the causes of offence was Brynner's portrayal of the king eating with chopsticks rather than a more regal spoon.
King Rama IV, a reformer who began Thailand's Westernisation, is worshipped by many Thais as the Buddhist equivalent of a saint.
Pitak said rejecting the movie would not stop Fox making the film in another country, and would therefore be self-defeating.
The Film Board is to meet again on Monday to consider a new version of script, an official of the Film Board said.
"The Film Board rejected Fox's drafts script because the theme and concept of the movie was similar to the Broadway production of 'Anna and the King,'" the official said.
"It is unacceptable to any Thai national to see the highest institution being presented as a subject of comedy."
Thailand's constitution prescribes long jail terms for lese majeste -- literally any act deemed to wound the monarchy.
Reuters/Variety
TAKING CARE OF CHOW YUN FAT FROM 6 AM TO MIDNIGHT; FAT-SO EXHAUSTS HERSELF AND IS HOSPITALIZED
Article from the Apple Daily of November 4th. Courteously translated and transcribed by Sanney, and circulated by John Charles.
Behind every successful man is a good woman -- Chow Yun-Fat is no exception. Working very hard on behalf of her husband, Fat-So recently developed intestinal problems and had to be undergo surgery. She has since returned home and is resting. However, she must return each month for follow-up exams.
Yesterday, when Apple reporters phoned to see how she was faring, Fat-So said, "My husband told me not to work so hard. I was working from 6 am to midnight. It was very difficult. My husband didn't want to see me work so hard and he often told me to take more time for myself. From now on, I will take his advice and try to cut down on my workload."
As a result of the intestinal problems, her doctor has told her to stop eating spicy foods. In addition she can no longer have coffee and lemonade. Because Fat-Jai cares so much for his wife, he has taken it upon himself to strenously regulate his wife's eating habits. Fat-So said, "Everyday I was used to drinking coffee and having something spicy! Right now, my husband won't let me have any of that. It really is tough on me. However, I know that he is doing it for my own good."
SUPPORT FOR NEW KING AND I ARISES IN THAILAND
A Studio Briefing report of November 4th. Courteously forwarded me by Jeff Koga!
A government official in Thailand urged his colleagues today (Wednesday) to reverse a ban on the proposed filming of Anna and the King. Pitak Intaraviriyanant, the government minister who is responsible for tourism in Thailand, told Reuters, "Having them film here will mean we can have a thorough look at the script and urge them to cooperate in changing unsuitable parts." He
noted that banning production of the film in Thailand would not stop producers 20th Century Fox from making the film elsewhere and would therefore be self defeating.
Fan Account of CYF's Coolness at the Frances Yip Concert
Many thanks to the fan who wrote in to share this account!
We had a pops concert last night (I work for the Hong Kong Philharmonic) at the Coliseum with the famous Canto pop star from the old generation, Frances Yip. She was great by the way, if you like that kind of sappy music which I assume you do since you watch HK movies (isn't the soundtrack to "The Killer" just great?) She is 51 now and this was sort of her "comeback" concert--she had cancer 2 years ago. Anyway, she used to sing the theme songs from "Shanghai Bund", that TV drama which made CYF quite popular. So ... told me that CYF would be at the concert Saturday night so maybe I could see him. I felt very privileged being the only one who knew. She told me he would come in the backstage entrance so it would be easy to catch him. Of course I came prepared with my camera and my "A Better Tomorrow" vcd for him to sign. I felt like a complete idiot since I am too old for this kind of behavior--but what the hell. I love the guy. Anyway as I was standing outside before the concert in the parking lot, my friend said "oh, there is Chow Yun Fat." I thought he was joking but there he was walking toward us with his wife. I approached him and he walked toward me with his arm extended to shake my hand and was smiling. I can't even remember if I shook his hand because I happened to be holding my [instrument] in my right hand and I didn't know what to do. I asked him if I could have a photo and he said sure. He looks exactly the same in real life as in the movies. His personality is also exactly the same. Warm and constantly grinning. Anyway it was all a little anti-climactic and I felt stupid because I get all tongue tied and shy around people that I adore. He also seemed in kind of a hurry--sort of remote. So it was a little disappointing. But the best part was yet to come. ... I had the perfect view of CYF who was in the front row of the audience. He was directly in my line of vision--it was very hard to concentrate. Anyway, in the last song, we made eye contact and he gave me a big smile! I'm serious! At first I thought he must be smiling at Frances so I looked down but then I realized she was on the other side of the stage. When I looked up again he was still smiling at me so I gave him a really big smile and we had a very nice moment. And then he started clapping his hands to the music (he did that a lot in the concert). That was very satisfying. I think he realized that the reason I looked so happy during the entire concert was because he was there so he gave me a smile for that. I must've looked loony in general because the musicians in this orchestra look stone faced, especially for pops concerts since we're supposed to hate this stuff. I think I can finally stop being obsessed with him now. After the last number everyone was clapping like mad, and above all that we could hear CYF screaming "ENCORE!" at the top of his lungs! It was so cute. The encore of course was "Shanghai Bund" and they showed slides of him on a huge screen behind the stage. Frances announced that CYF was in the audience and boy, that was the end for him. After the concert he was being swarmed by people for autographs so I was glad I had caught him before. ... got him to sign my vcd while we were playing (he was backstage visiting the singer during intermission and we had to play a long number without her after intermission). He is exactly what you'd expect him to be like. Totally polite and gracious. When he was walking around backstage he smiled at everyone and said "good show" many times to people. I don't think he stopped smiling during the concert either (you can just imagine how closely I was watching him). .... He looked amazing of course in khakis, a blue button down and a tweed blazer. ... All of my colleagues were complaining about what a hell week it has been--but for me, it was the best week of our season!
I love this story ... Well, let's be frank, I love most fan-meets-CYF stories. ;) It reminds of when I met him last year at the TFF -- as I wrote in My Two Minutes With Chow Yun-Fat, I too spent the whole time in a haze of adrenaline, unable to say anything coherent. It was embarassing, at the time, but wow is it fun to look back on.
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