- 导演李翰祥摆脱了以往拍古装宫廷历史片的完整方式,改用说书人的态度,风趣而技巧地叙谈有关乾隆的轶闻掌故,并着重于君臣雅趣的斗智及民俗方言的特色。如纪晓岚赤膊编修四库全书,乾隆突然驾临,来不及穿衣,躲到桌子下面仍被乾隆叫出来,好在他机智,才避免欺君之罪。乾隆微服私访,显露出一般平民的喜怒及爱打抱不平的爱心,看来更有亲切感和真实感。 开场花了将近十分钟讲述乾隆身世的由来,从雍正偶遇李佳氏,到少年弘历救助祖父,巧对对联,甚讨康熙欢心,打下成为皇帝的基础,把乾隆的来历交代得清清楚楚。画面一转,电影忽然开始详细介绍乾隆皇帝的生平,紫禁城内他的库藏,爱物,功绩。笔者忽然有看到老式纪录片的感觉,李导真是想怎样便怎样啊。从编纂四库全书的叙述开始,回到剧情故事,井淼扮演的纪晓岚出场,先讲了两个得罪人的黄段子,表现他的歪才,再接上著名的“书房妙解老头子”一段,刘永所演的乾隆这时也正式出场。其后是王昆扮演的刘墉在皇帝面前争“罗锅”封号和跳湖遇见屈原两个故事,组成电影的上半部。有李保田的珠玉在前,总觉得刘墉应该是干瘦的,王昆的胖脸更像贪官。不过由于故事有趣,拍得也生动,并不会觉得很不适。后半部是正题的乾隆游江南了,主要故事发生在扬州的一个小茶楼上,王沙把一个多嘴的店小二演得声情并茂,他口沫横飞花了将近二十分钟给乾隆上了一堂趣味盎然的民间风情课,像什么“人到扬州老,船到瓜洲小”,广州称人都称“佬”,真是了解不少民间事,开拓皇帝和观众的视野。最后一场大战以喜剧的方式展开,闹腾得整条街不得安宁,乾隆也就此认识了周日清,顺便惩罚贪官污吏。
- A SLICE OF DEATH / ABBOT OF SHAOLIN (1979) is another Shaw Bros. kung fu film with a Shaolin Temple theme. David Chiang stars as the monk Chi San, who survives the burning of Shaolin Temple and travels south to Kwangtung to raise money to re-build the temple as forces loyal to the Ching Emperor follow in close pursuit. He meets a merchant in Kwangtung who becomes his patron and he develops a group of followers, including Hung Si Kwan, a familiar character from Shaolin lore. There are lots of good fight scenes and a well-written script with interesting encounters between the varied characters.