譚玉蘭

简介

Tam Yuk Lan was a Cantonese opera and film actress active in the 1930s. She was known for portraying bold, flirtatious and provocative female roles on screen. Her film debut was the Cantonese literary drama "Ye Hua Xiang" (Wild Flower Fragrance) in February 1935, and her final film was the Cantonese literary drama "Xin Mo" (Heart Demon) in November 1937. She was acclaimed as one of the "Four Great Dan Stars" of Cantonese opera in the 1930s, alongside Shanghai Mei, Tan Lanqing, and Wei Shaofang. On July 22, 1934, she performed Cantonese opera at Hong Kong's Ko Shing Theatre with the Phoenix Troupe alongside male lead Chan Pei-Mei and clown Chan Pei-Nga. In the evening performance of "Da Kuai Le" (Great Happiness), she performed the "Iron-Soled Shoe Dance" which she had learned from America. She also recorded a Cantonese opera song "Liang Xing Zheng Di Yi" (The Two Sexes Competing for First Place) with Bai Yutang. Tam Yuk Lan owned several automobiles, including a dark blue American Austin car which she brought from Hong Kong to Macau during the Pacific War to sell; it eventually returned to Hong Kong in 1950 and was used in the production of Mandarin films. Among her notable films were "Huo Shao E Pang Gong" (Burning of the Efang Palace), "Li Fu Ren" (Madame Li), "Kuei Xue Zui Ren" (Scientific Criminal), "Se Xue An" (Pink Blood Case), and "Nu Zei Lan Niang" (The Female Thief Lan Niang). Chu Ying-Mei was her disciple.