Father Takes The Bride
1963 – Mandarin – 96 Minutes
Director: Wong Tin-lam
Cast: Lucilla You Min, Kelly Lai Chen, Wang Yin, Wang Lai, Dunn Brothers
Father Takes a Bride is a cute romantic comedy, showing how the reunion between old classmates Sun Chuan (Kelly Lai Chen) and Wang Ching-hui (Lucilla You Min) leads to a whirlwind romance.
However, the real story begins when we meet Hing-hui’s family, from her widower father Wang Hung-shen (Wang Yin) to the younger brothers Ching-fang and Ching-cheng (Peter and Paul Dunn) who don’t want daddy to remarry for fear of having a mean stepmother. The two young boys’ fear and Ching-hui’s obligation to her family lead to a chain of hilarious misunderstandings that will teach us love – not obligations – keeps a family together.
The production is a tailor-made showcase of You Min’s stellar persona. Under the direction of Wong Tin-lam, she radiates a demure yet chic aura that lead to the movie’s success.
Written by renowned novelist Eileen Chang, who contributes to the film a subtlety rarely found in the Hongkong cinema, the film is also remarkable for its exquisite set designs and a memorable score by the Japanese composer, Ryoichi Hitori.