Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia (2006)

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Yu Cao (play)
Yimou Zhang (writer)

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Unspeakable secrets are hidden within the Forbidden City.

Plot:

During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.

Plot Keywords:

Emperor | Prince | China | Empress | Crown Prince

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 9 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Yun-Fat Chow	...	Emperor Ping
Li Gong	...	Empress Phoenix
Jay Chou	...	Prince Jai
Ye Liu	...	Crown Prince Wan
Dahong Ni	...	Imperial Physician Jiang
Junjie Qin	...	Prince Yu
Man Li	...	Jiang Chan
Jin Chen	...	Mrs. Jiang

Directed by
Yimou Zhang

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Yu Cao		play "Lei yu"
Yimou Zhang		writer

Produced by
William Kong	....	producer
Weiping Zhang	....	producer
Yimou Zhang	....	producer
Zhenyan Zhang	....	line producer

Original Music by
Shigeru Umebayashi

Cinematography by
Xiaoding Zhao

Film Editing by
Long Cheng

Production Design by
Tingxiao Huo

Art Direction by
Chengguang Dong
Hongwu Sun
Xinhua Wei
Bin Zhao		(supervising art director)
Minxuan Zong

Costume Design by
Chung Man Yee

Makeup Department
Siu-Mui Chau	....	chief hairstylist
Tam Ying Kwan	....	chief hairstylist
Emily Lin	....	chief hairstylist
Jian-Ping Liu	....	chief makeup artist
Yun-Ling Man	....	chief makeup artist

Production Management
Tianhui Ge	....	unit production manager
Angie Lam	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lulu Fu	....	assistant director
Liu Guonan	....	first assistant director
Yu Liang	....	assistant director
Qiwu Zang	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound effects editor
Xue Han	....	sound editor
Phil Jeffers	....	foley artist
Phil Jeffers	....	sound editor
Hongrui Ji	....	sound effects editor
Qianqian Ke	....	foley artist
Jia Liu	....	sound editor
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound effects editor (as Rob Mackenzie)
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Mackenzie)
Niu Ma	....	sound effects editor
Jason Mannell	....	foley artist
Michael McMenomy	....	sound editor
Peter Mills	....	foley editor
Glenn Newnham	....	sound effects editor
Paul Pirola	....	sound effects editor
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound supervisor
Ye Shu	....	sound effects editor
Qiuxia Sun	....	sound editor
Jing Tao	....	sound designer
Jing Tao	....	supervising sound editor
Hao Tu	....	foley artist
Terry Tu	....	foley artist
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Yuhong Wang	....	supervising sound editor
Zhida Wei	....	sound post-production coordinator
David White	....	foley artist
Andy Wright	....	sound effects editor
Jing Xiao	....	sound effects editor
Fan Xie	....	sound technician
Bin Zhang	....	sound post-production coordinator

Special Effects by
Amit Desai	....	technical developer

Visual Effects by
Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor	....	executive producer: MPC
Paul Alexiou	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC
Purves Amarali	....	CG artist: MPC
Chris Armsden	....	rendering technical director: MPC
Dan Ashton	....	scanning and recording technician: Weta Digital
Jonathan Attenborough	....	lead digital artist: MPC
Lucy Bailey	....	research and development artist
Murray Barber	....	digital compositor: MPC
Angela Barson	....	visual effects supervisor: MPC
Oliver Shyal Beardsley	....	crowd technical director: digital army, MPC (as Shyal Beardsley)
Matthew Benns	....	system support
Nick Booth	....	scanning and recording supervisor: Weta Digital
Izet Buco	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Stuart Bullen	....	roto/prep artist
Jon Capleton	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Tom Carrick	....	motion capture: MPC
Belle Chan	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chan Bo Yee, Belle)
Gladys Ching Sze Chan	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chan Ching Sze, Gladys)
Tommy Bing Chang	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chang Bing, Tommy)
Simon Hok Hing Chan	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chan Hok Hing, Simon)
Jacffy Shing Lok Che	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Che Shing Lok, Jacffy)
Andrew Wei Wen Chen	....	conceptual designer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chen Wei Wen, Andrew)
Cecil Man Ching Cheng	....	visual effects producer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Cheng Man Ching, Cecil)
Vivian Wing Tong Cheuk	....	visual effects producer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Cheuk Wing Tong, Vivian)
Tommy Chin Wing Cheung	....	digital compositing supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Cheung Chin Wing, Tommy)
Jim Kwok Ming Chim	....	conceptual designer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chim Kwok Ming, Jim)
Josey Tak Wai Chiu	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chiu Tak Wai, Josey)
Ka Man Choi	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Choi Ka Man)
Tsz Yeung Choi	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Choi Tsz Yeung, Jeremy)
Eddie Tsin Yan Chow	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chow Tsin Yan, Eddie)
Dennis Chim Kwan Chung	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chung Chim Kwan, Dennis)
Dy Choi Ying Chung	....	visual effects assistant: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chung Choi Ying, Dy)
Frankie Chung	....	visual effects supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chung Chi Hang)
Vanessa Man Wah Chu	....	visual effects assistant: Centro Digital Pictures (as Chu Man Wah, Vanessa)
Hayley Collins	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Luan Davis	....	prep artist: MPC
Luan Davis	....	roto artist: MPC
Paul Driver	....	visual effects coordinator: MPC
Laura Dubsky	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Jonathan East	....	render wrangler: MPC
Michael Elson	....	executive producer: MPC
Philip English	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Finkbom	....	CG artist: opening title animation
Matt Foster	....	prep artist: MPC
Matt Foster	....	roto artist: MPC
Honkaz Hing Keung Fung	....	conceptual designer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Fung Hing Keung, Honkaz)
Jami Gigot	....	concept artist
Jami Gigot	....	digital artist
Miles Glyn	....	CG artist: MPC
Alex Guri	....	digital compositor
David Hampton	....	scanning and recording technician: Weta Digital
Lionel Heath	....	roto/prep: MPC
Matt Hicks	....	CG artist: opening title animation
Martin Hobbs	....	executive producer: MPC
Oliver Hollis	....	motion capture actor
Henrik Holmberg	....	CG artist: MPC
Vlad Holst	....	CG artist: MPC
Greg Howe-Davies	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Franco Yuk Leung Hung	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Hung Yuk Leung, Franco)
Harry Ching Wei Hung	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Hung Ching Wei, Harry)
Marc Hutchings	....	prep artist: MPC
Marc Hutchings	....	roto artist: MPC
Ryan Hutchings	....	roto/prep artist: MPC
Suzanne Jandu	....	compositing supervisor
Drew Jones	....	visual effects: executive producer
Owen Jones	....	matchmove artist
Olivier Junquet	....	fluid technical director: MPC
Catharine Wan Tin Kam	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Kam Wan Tin, Catharine)
Peng Ke	....	on-set visual effects: MPC (as Peng Ke)
Arek Komorowski	....	digital compositor
Felix Tsz Fei Lai	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Lai Tsz Fei, Felix)
Alan Kin Lun Lam	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Lam Kin Lun, Alan)
Noelle Ho Ching Lam	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Lam Ho Ching, Noelle)
Debbie Langford	....	motion capture: MPC
Ricky Chi Fung Lau	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Lau Chi Fung, Ricky)
Vicki Wong Kei Lau	....	conceptual designer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Lau Wing Kei, Vicky)
Kwok Yiu Lee	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Lee Kwok Yiu)
John Leonti	....	computer graphics supervisor: MPC
Edward Yu Cheung Leung	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Yu Cheung, Edward)
Ken Kai Yin Leung	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Kai Yin, Ken)
Manda Pui Man Leung	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Pui Man, Manda)
Ricky Kwok Ming Leung	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Kwok Ming, Ricky)
Ross Kar Hin Leung	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Kar Hin, Ross)
Wai Kit Leung	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Wai Kit)
Yiu Fung Leung	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Leung Yiu Fung)
Jason Hang Kei Li	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Li Hang Kei, Jason)
Bryan Litson	....	3D artist
So Man Lung	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as So Man Lung)
Vaibhav Marathe	....	digital compositor: MPC
Gary Marshall	....	motion capture: MPC
Alan McCabe	....	render wrangler: MPC
Marlin McGlone	....	data operative
Alasdair McNeill	....	roto/prep supervisor: MPC
Paul McWilliams	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Ellen E. Miki	....	rotoscope artist: MPC (as Ellen Miki)
Humayun Mirza	....	rotoscope artist: MPC
Steve Moncur	....	CG artist: MPC
Ryan Mullany	....	roto/prep artist
Dan Neal	....	lead digital artist: MPC
Stuart Nelhams	....	visual effects editor: MPC
Martin Newcombe	....	matchmove artist
Elliot Newman	....	digital artist
Roy Ka Lung Ng	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Ng Ka Lung, Roy)
Simon Payne	....	effects technical director
Ralph Chun Ho Poon	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Poon Chun Ho, Ralph)
Ollie Rankin	....	crowd sim lead
Tim Riley	....	crowd technical director
Becky Roberts	....	roto-, prep- and matchmove coordinator: MPC
James Russell	....	digital compositor: MPC
Steve J. Sanchez	....	digital compositor
Liz Scully	....	lead digital artist: MPC
Man Yu Sin	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Sin Man Yu)
David Sudd	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Chi Ho Suen	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Suen Chi Ho)
Simon Cheuk Wah Sze	....	computer graphics supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Sze Cheuk Wah, Simon)
Hon Man Tang	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Tang Hon Man)
Vicky Wei Tang	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Tang Wei, Vicky)
Andrew Myles Thompson	....	matchmove Artist: MPC (as Andrew Thompson)
Kenny Kin Wai Tse	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Tse Kin Wai, Kenny)
King Ho Tse	....	digital compositing supervisor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Tse King Ho)
John Van Hoey Smith	....	digital compositor
Billy Sung Yik Wai	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wai Sung Yik, Billy)
Julia Wigginton	....	visual effects producer
Pete Williams	....	scanning and recording manager: weta digital
Chris Wilson	....	3D artist: MPC
Chris Wilson	....	render wrangler: MPC
Oliver Winwood	....	assistant digital resource manager: MPC
Candy Ke Wan Wong	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Ke Wan, Candy)
Christine Wong	....	digital compositor: MPC (as Christine Yuen Yan Wong)
Jacky Ke Kui Wong	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Ke Kui, Jacky)
Jen Ka Wing Wong	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Ka Wing, Jen)
Ollie Shu Kuen Wong	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Shu Kuen, Ollie)
Patrick Chak Ki Wong	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Chak Ki, Patrick)
Rachel Wai Yan Wong	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Wai Yan, Rachel)
Zerah Shing Yan Wong	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Wong Shing Yan, Zerah)
Anna Yamazoe	....	matchmove Artist: MPC
Hin Wai Yeung	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Yeung Hin Wai)
Lisa Yee Man Ying	....	digital compositor: Centro Digital Pictures (as Ying Yee Man, Lisa)
Marco Chun Yi Yip	....	computer graphics animator: Centro Digital Pictures (as Yip Chun Yi, Marco)
Johnny Kwong Hung Yue	....	conceptual designer: Centro Digital Pictures (as Yue Kwong Hung, Johnny)
Martyn Drake	....	systems: MPC (uncredited)

Stunts
Siu-Tung Ching	....	action director (as Tony Ching Siu-Tung)

Camera and Electrical Department
Xiaoyan Bai	....	still photographer
Kai Chen	....	crane grip
Raymond Lam	....	Steadicam operator
Raymond Lam	....	camera operator
Wensheng Li	....	assistant camera
De-Guang Wen	....	camera operator
Ou Xu	....	lighting designer

Animation Department
Ian Cross	....	director: opening sequence title animation
Inga Millers	....	producer: opening title sequence animation

Editorial Department
Warren Lynch	....	digital intermediate supervisor

Music Department
Toshiyuki Kuwahara	....	assistant music programmer
Sachiko Miyano	....	orchestrator
Kumiko Sekiguchi	....	music production manager
Minoru Tanaka	....	music editor
Minoru Tanaka	....	music mixer
Yoshiko Uchida	....	assistant music preparation
Shigeru Umebayashi	....	music programmer
Shigeru Umebayashi	....	score producer
Tadashi Yatabe	....	music programmer

Other crew
Siu-Tung Ching	....	action director
Cai Li	....	martial arts supervisor
Tsutomu Satomi	....	sound coordinator
Fang Tong	....	historical consultant
Fang Tong	....	literary consultant
Shigeru Umebayashi	....	synthesizer
Zhang Xiaolong	....	ancient etiquette advisor
Tadashi Yatabe	....	synthesizer

Production Companies

• Beijing New Picture Film Co.
• EDKO Film
• Elite Group Enterprises
• Film Partner International
• Standard Chartered Bank (financial support)

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2007) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• SND (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Showtime (2007) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• TOBIS Film (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Media (2006) (Hungary) (all media)
• Edko Video (2007) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Tiglon (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Centro Digital Pictures Ltd. (visual effects)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (visual effects) (opening sequence title animation)
• Picasso Pictures (opening sequence title animation)

Other Companies

• Arigat-Orchestra  orchestra
• Asia Legend  front and end credits
• Beijing Zhong He Studio  camera and lighting equipment
• China National Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• Cinerent  camera equipment provided by
• CyberPort Digital Media Centre  digital film output (as Digital Media Centre)
• Ex Ltd.  music production
• Exart Studio  sound mixing studio (as Exart Studio Tokyo)
• Hear Heart Studio  recording studio: Beijing
• Intercolor  digital color grading
• Kantana Animation Co. Ltd.  film laboratory (as Kantana Film Lab)
• Kantana Animation Co. Ltd.  negative processing
• Oriental Post Co. Ltd.  telecine and transfers
• Park Road Post  film laboratory
• Soundfirm Beijing Co. Ltd.  sound post-production
• Soundfirm  sound post-production (as Soundfirm)
• Studio Room  sound mixing studio (as Studio Room Tokyo)
• Technicolor Thailand  film laboratory
• Weta Digital  film recording
• Wonder Station  recording studio: Tokyo

Also Known As:

Autumn Remembrance (Hong Kong: English title) (working title)
Curse of the Golden Flower (International: English title)
The City of Golden Armor (Hong Kong: English title) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

USA:114 min | Hong Kong:111 min | Argentina:114 min

Country:

Hong Kong | China

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:U | Australia:M | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:15A | UK:15 (cut) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Germany:12 | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Norway:15 | Brazil:14 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | South Korea:15 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

China

Company:

Beijing New Picture Film Co.

Trivia:

It took over 20 days to shoot the battle scene.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Given Chan leaves the inn almost immediately after Wan does, why does it take so long for her to reach the palace? (Consider everything that happens to Wan after he arrives back but before Chan arrives.)

Quotes:

Prince Jai: [upon discovering the Black Fungus] Mother was taken ill yesterday. Was it because of this?
Empress Phoenix: [nods head]
Prince Jai: Why is Father doing this to you?
Empress Phoenix: Jai, after the Chrysanthemum Festival, I shall tell you the whole truth.
[turns away]
Empress Phoenix: Each day, in front of your father, I have to feign ignorance. Every two hours, I swallow this poison without protest. Nobody knows what is happening. I shall die exactly as your father intends. A half-wit. But I refuse to submit without a fight. On the night of the Festival, I shall put an end to all this.
Prince Jai: Do my brothers know?
Empress Phoenix: No.
Prince Jai: If I had not returned, would Mother have gone ahead?
Empress Phoenix: Yes.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-01-06)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Juhua Tai

Just so beautiful to even look at...

Zhang Yimou was a very highly regarded filmmaker 5 years ago, before I had ever heard of him. Then he earned a place in my heart by directing both Hero and House of Flying Daggers. With those last two I felt like I was in martial arts movie heaven, so I would instantly be interested in any other future films that could approach those two in scope, talent, and action. Curse of the Golden Flower focuses mostly on the first two of those three traits, but besides, anything starring Chow Yun-Fat will earn my attention like a bullet to the head. I do own The Corrupter after all.

This is a film about a royal family, rather dysfunctional at that, in the 928 AD Tang Dynasty. Chow Yun-Fat is Emperor Ping, who from the way he handles his family and can anticipate any kind of attack or counterattack seems like quite the ruthless warlord. He has three sons: one is a teenager, who isn't given much regard but knows more than others think. The eldest of the three is the current crown prince, but doesn't seem to have any special talents, other than drawing the affections of the wrong women. The middle son is a great warrior and, of course, is now the favorite of the father. But these characters may be just pawns to Empress Phoenix (Gong Li), who is mother to the younger two brothers and step-mother to the eldest. Under normal circumstances she might be a great mother, wife, and Empress, but current circumstances, including a mystery illness, have forced her to take actions involving a secret plot to remove her husband from the throne.

This is not the action movie some might expect, though there is enough near the end to earn the R rating. It's basically a family drama, though in a rather fascinating and different setting for such a story. As you'd expect with a royal family, appearances are everything. Anything out of the ordinary has to happen in secret. All the normal everyday stuff is almost mechanical in nature. Whether you see dozens of servants getting up in the morning, or preparing food, or planting flowers, it all occurs in such a fiercely coordinated fashion. It would have been such a hard life, either being a royal or supporting one, but it would be a miserable life if one couldn't take any pride in what they did.

The filmmakers who designed and implemented all the sets and costumes should take a hell of a lot of pride in what they do. The family of this story, even while destroying themselves (and therefore their empire) from within, are living in the most lavish accommodations and outfits I've ever seen. I usually don't think much of costuming or set design, but I must say that after seeing Chow Yun-Fat's golden suit of armor, or anything Gong Li was in, or the design of their personal quarters, I really hope for some Oscar recognition. Perhaps the best I've ever seen in those areas.

Overall though, a good film, and a definite must for any Chow Yun-Fat fan to seem him play such a great villain, as with Sammo Hung in Sha Po Lang. It kept me interested throughout, but nothing too surprising happened in regards to story. It basically all went how I imagined it would.