Customer Reviews

Countess From Hong Kong [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Countess" was Chaplin's final film and sadly I think it has been labelled as being awful. This is not the case. I feel that the main reason for people believing this to be a bad film is that they don't understand it. Chaplin always created fantastic stories out of simple ideas and this is not an exception. It is written and directed with such subtle elegance that some of the simpliest visual gags turn into the most hilarious situations. There are fantastic actors all round: Brando himself, Sophia Loren looking gorgeous, Sydney Chaplin showing that talent does run in the family and Patrick Cargill as the butler. Chaplin himself pulls a cameo and does a great job at not hogging his screen time, a mistake made by directors like Tarantino. The result is an amazingly gentle film that shows people from a fresh human perspective, a breath of fresh air by todays standards. You will be missed Charlie.

This film has been trashed mostly by people who are holding this up to Chaplin's earlier masterpiece films. It is easy to see this one isn't like his other movies and it wasn't meant to be. If you were to watch this film by itself you would find that it is a unique and well made if not classicly entertaining movie. Chaplin was working on 2 or 3 different film projects when he picked this one as it was probably the least time consuming. One of the other projects was Shadows and Substance, of which he had a completed draft of the script finished (it never was filmed but may yet see the screen as some interest has been shown recently by other filmmakers in completing this project). While among the weakest of Chaplin films, A Countess From Hong Kong is still above standard fare and especially if you are spoiled by the ho-hum films of modern day this one is a nice, witty 60s flick that will please those of us with an attention span greater than a jelly fish. A Countess From Hong Kong is a sure bet for fans of Chaplin, Marlon Brando or Sophia Loren.

A COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG was director/comedian Charlie Chaplin's final film. In this film he is the director, writer and composer.

The story concerns a beguiling Russian countess named Natascha (Sophia Loren - HOUSEBOAT), a young woman forced into prostitution in Hong Kong, when she happens to meet an American politician named Ogden Mears (Marlon Brando - A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, SUPERMAN). She stows away in his stateroom aboard a ship headed back to the States, where she belives she can escape her miserable life.

The usual battle-of-the-sexes ensues, when Natascha and Ogden are forced to spend the entire voyage together, bickering and fighting over their different opinions and tastes. But its soon evident that they are in love. Things become complicated when Ogden's icy wife (Tippi Hedren - THE BIRDS, MARNIE) joins the ship at Hawaii, while Natascha finds herself marrying Ogden's valet in order to gain an American passport!

This is a film that feels a little old-fashioned for the 1960s, but it is a rather charming and engaging romantic comedy. Perhaps the film is best-known for launching the hit single "(Love) This is My Song", made famous by Petula Clark. The movie also stars Sydney Chaplin, Patrick Cargill and Margaret Rutherford in a rather-clever cameo.

The DVD includes the trailer. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

This DVD is part of a new series of classic releases from Universal that also include "Pillow Talk", "Send Me No Flowers", "The Thrill of It All!" and a twofer of "Man's Favorite Sport?/Strange Bedfellows".

This is a great romantic comedy and should be taken for just that. Though Marlon Brando does a great job he was an odd choice for this role, so his fans would probably not enjoy this. It's very different from anything he has done. I have seen this movie many times and enjoy it more and more each time. The music is wonderful! I searched for many years for the soundtrack and was rewarded a few years ago. It's very light and easy comedy with some great chemistry between Loren and Brando. Originally when it was released it had some not so great reviews, but a lot of that was due to the many problems that plaqued the set and the cost. See the movie and judge for yourself. If you enjoy the old romantic comedies with Doris Day and Rock Hudson you should really enjoy this one.

I abolutely like this movie, because I dont see it as a "last film from C.C." I see it as it is, a good comedy, especially
because Loren an Brando do not have the greatest chemestry - it
makes it even funnier. I like the type of comedy from these days
and it cant be compared to our times - I judge it positively for a movie from these days. Love it much!

I have been wanting this movie (A Countess from Hong Kong) for a very long time, never thought of checking Amazon for it. I am so glad that I was able to get it; it's as good as I remembered it and I enjoyed watching it again and will share it with my friends.

Universal Pictures presents "COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG" (15 March 1967) (108 mins/Color) (Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Marlon Brando is an out of sorts politician, Sophia Loren gives a tug at your heart performance and almost carries the film by herself --- She is absolutely stunning and shines even when she wears Brando's character's pajamas --- Must make mention of the haunting beautiful score composed by Chaplin himself --- Take note there is a plus with cameos from Margaret Rutherford (British films of the 50s Miss Marple) and Angela Scoular as the society girl just about steals the entire film, also great comedy scenes from Patrick Cargill as the butler, Tippi Hedren as Martha gives a so-so outing --- Sydney Chaplin might have been a better choice for the lead, but didn't have the star power Brando had during the 60's.

Under the production staff of:
Charles Chaplin - Director, Producer & Original Screenplay
Charles Chaplin - Original Music
Jerome Epstein - Producer
Arthur Ibbetson - Cinematographer
Gordon Hales - Film Editor

BIOS:
1. Marlon Brando
Date of Birth: 3 April 1924 - Omaha, Nebraska
Date of Death: 1 July 2004 - Los Angeles, California

2. Sophia Loren
Date of Birth: 20 September 1934 - Rome, Lazio, Italy
Date of Death: Still Living

3. Sydney Chaplin
Date of Birth: 30 March 1926 - Beverly Hills, California
Date of Death: 3 March 2009 - Rancho Mirage, California

4. Tippi Hedren
Date of Birth: 19 January 1930 - New Ulm, Minnesota
Date of Death: Still Living

5. Charles Chaplin - Director
Date of Birth: 16 April 1889 - Walworth, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 25 December 1977 - Vevey, Switzerland

the cast includes
Marlon Brando ... Ogden Mears
Sophia Loren ... Natascha
Sydney Chaplin ... Harvey
Tippi Hedren ... Martha
Patrick Cargill ... Hudson
Michael Medwin ... John Felix
Oliver Johnston ... Clark
John Paul ... The Captain
Angela Scoular ... The Society Girl
Margaret Rutherford ... Miss Gaulswallow
Peter Bartlett ... Steward
Bill Nagy ... Crawford
Dilys Laye ... Saleswoman
Angela Pringle ... Baroness
Jenny Bridges ... Countess
Charles Chaplin ... An old steward

Check out the Marlon Brando 4-Movie Collection (The Ugly American / The Appaloosa / A Countess from Hong Kong / The Night of the Following Day)
also available on this Amazon site:
http://www.amazon.com/Collection-American-Appaloosa-Countess-Following/dp/B0007RTBA6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1248618787&sr=1-2

This is probably a good case of miscasting between Brando and Loren, there is no spark to their performances when together --- Another character to the film is This is My Song one of Charlie Chaplin's famous tunes from this film --- 'This Is My Song' reached number one after a week in 1967 when sung by Petula Clark --- She recorded the tune in French, Italian, and German --- Don't regard this film as Chaplin's best work, but it is far from being a bad film --- All in all not bad for a director 77 years young!

Total Time: 108 min on DVD ~ Universal Pictures ~ (02/04/2003)

It's a slapstick comedy in full Technicolor. The acting is superb, with a
sense of humor simply too subtle for some late bloomer. Highly enjoyable!

A great movie to watch. Very funny and romantic at the same time. She should have won an oscar for her performance. She is a great lady and a wonderful actrice.

This is a great old movie. Setting is dated but the story and acting are great. Marlon Brando could do comic acting! Has a very good scene about seasickness on a cruise ship. Buy it.