永華電影叢刋第六輯
大涼山恩仇記
大涼山恩仇記
過去的國產影壇,對於一部影片的構成,大都祗偏重於姑嫂公婆間的交惡,或是夫妻男女間的相悅,雖然這是各人的主張見地的不同,可是國產電影業的前程,可能漸漸不克保持其原有的光榮,由盛極而趨於衰落,這是未許樂觀的事實。
本公司對劇本的取材,一向主張在可能範圍之內,儘量採用對國家民族多少有些貢獻的故事,因為電影是一種文學,文學的演進,應該隨時顯着活潑的朝氣,要利用它來提醒我們國家當局對國策上的缺點,同時也要叫將低落了的電影業再高高的昂起頭來。
這部以川康交界夷漢鬥爭爲題材的「大涼山恩仇記」,是由舞台名劇搬上銀幕的,它有它光明燦爛的故事,在舞台上更有它廣大的群衆,它指示民族鬥爭同根相煎的錯誤,它高呼着被壓迫的奴隸該解放。故事的敍述,充滿着朝氣,我們爲了企慕它的故事,採爲劇本。明知攝製上的困難很多,終於我們參照曾昭掄先生的考察,更由夷人顧問阿扎慕甘拉惹的蒞廠指導,加以雄厚的資力克服了困難,經過壹年餘的攝製,嚴格而鄭重的剪接,這部「大涼山恩仇記」很欣幸的在我們的影場上誕生了,我們希望它由於觀衆的愛護而永遠的閃着光燄而不朽。
電影小說
大凉山恩仇記
一
鄭明營長(鮑方飾)奉召晉見邊區綏靖總署的司令長官,長官指着牆上的地圖,說明川滇康邊境的涼山夷務問題非常嚴重,夷族儸儸,生性強悍,多年以來和漢人時起衝突,漢人欺他們無知,夷人恨漢人欺詐,便常結隊下山,焚殺刼掠,強擄漢人男女入山作奴隸,近來夷患日益猖獗,急需派一個幹練的人,帶軍隊入山,作一個妥善澈底的解决。
鄭營長被派定負起這重大的任務,他率領着弟兄們到達邊城雷波,潘縣長(金剛飾)、楊團總(尤光照飾)、楊太太(楊薇飾)、劉承庠紳士(黎明飾)等出城迎接。鄭營長駐驆鄭公祠,說出自已便是鄭公良才的兒子,劉等聽了更加敬重,深慶辦理夷務得人。關于治夷的辦法,楊團總力主痛剿,劉紳士則勸以和平手段宣撫。
鄭營長出巡邊防,潘縣長等都伴同左右,遙見一個英武的夷民少年,在山陵上策馬飛馳,這少年見有漢吏在山下巡査,便放鎗示威而去,這少年是涼山瓦渣家的當家娃子烏沙克(劉瓊飾),自幼被擄到涼山作娃子,生活已經完全夷化了。
鄭明巡査到照燈坪,看見小山上豎着一個高大旗竿,劉
紳士說,二十年前鄭公良才鎮守涼山時,在這竿上掛一隻紅燈,便利涼山出入行旅,和指示被夷人擄去的娃子(奴隸)來歸,鄭明聽了便命恢復舊制,重掛起一盞光亮的紅燈在這矗立雲霄的竿頂上。
二
紅燈光亮照耀了涼山,頓使涼山的夷民們驚駭不已,于是奔走相吿,因爲這燈熄滅了已經有二十年,現在突然重現光明,漢夷的仇恨,象徵着又是死灰復燃了。
瓦渣家大黑夷蘇咕噠,便是二十年前殺死鄭良才的主兇,這時正替他兒子亞猛(羅維飾)娶落烏家女兒作媳婦,在迎親的一天,新娘子在路上放了一個屁,被瓦渣家的娃子恥笑,羞憤跳崖自殺(註),他派了當家娃子烏沙克到落烏家去討還財禮,三天還不回來,他爲這事頗感煩悶。
美姑河是橫貫涼山的一條大河,兩岸叢林蓊鬱,碧茵如氈,怪石嶙峋,奇花送香,風景非常幽美。烏沙克和大黑夷蘇咕噠的掌珠珊拉娜(孫景路飾)暗地裏相戀着,他們常在月色籠罩下的美姑河邊談情說愛,海誓山盟,夷人的律法是不准黑夷白夷結合的,如果發覺他們發生曖昧,必行處死,逼令跳入火坑殉情,一些也沒通融的餘地。烏沙克與珊拉娜明知他們的苦戀是沒有結果的,橫在他們面前是一條死路,但正浮沉在愛河中的青年男女,是不顧一切嚴重後果的。
烏沙克從落烏家回來,先作起怪鳥叫聲約珊拉娜在美姑
河邊會面,珊拉娜應聲而至,三日不見,各訴相思之苦。烏沙克的母親,也就是鄭良才的太太,自從二十年前被擄入涼山之後,在瓦渣家當珊拉娜的奶娘,依涼山俗例改號角石母,烏沙克和珊拉娜兩人從小就在一個搖籃裏長大,烏沙克的母親角石母(舒繡文飾)對於他倆的神祕行動,漸生懷疑,暗暗在旁注視,她看見珊拉娜應着怪鳥聲狂奔而去。
烏沙克在路上遇見角石母,角石母看出他心神不安,嚴厲的教訓了他一頓。烏沙克回見大黑夷蘇咕噠(王元龍飾)報吿在落烏家交涉經過,落烏家不但不肯退還財禮,並且要瓦渣家賠償跳崖死去的女兒的命價——要珊拉娜無條件的嫁到落烏家去,否則落烏家要打寃家。蘇咕噠聽了大怒,說:「沒有一百錠硬銀子,三十件輭銀子,十對牛,四十隻豬,五十對羊,兩桿九子鎗,三對虎耳的財禮,别想討我的花花女!」他決定跟落烏家拚個你死我活,命烏沙克、色莫乃窩(王斑飾)等分頭到山前山後召喚瓦渣家的娃子們,在太陽下山的時候,到他院子裏來集合,一同出發打寃家,瓦渣家的黑白夷都興奮的準備去了。
三
鄭營長自到涼山之後,接到許多控吿楊團總的呈文,說他勾結夷民,欺壓漢人,販賣鎗械來掉換雅片,楊團總矢口否認,恰巧鄭營長手下兵士,捉到偷運鎗械的保衞團團丁,押到營部,楊團總不承認他們是團丁,硬指他們是土匪,鄭
營長叫手下趙連長(戴衍萬飾)仔細審問,再作計較。
楊團總雖然逃過了這一關,但做賊心虛,焦急萬狀,回家後和他素以能幹著稱的太太商量對策,楊太太是雷波婦女會的主席,楊團總的幕後參謀,足智多計狡猾毒辣。她獻計說,一不做二不休,馬上派人上山去煽動夷人,結隊下山來打垮鄭明的隊伍,楊團總就託他太太帶了很重的禮物,祕密上山去見大黑夷,實行她的狡計。
當天傍晚時候,瓦渣家的娃子們紛紛集合於瓦渣家的院子裏,蘇咕噠正在屋內與他兒子亞猛和護衞色莫乃窩等商議與落烏家打寃家的種種準備時,楊太太到了,她花言巧語,說漢人鄭營長帶了飛機大炮,預備打上山來,並揚言:「殺黑留白,踏平涼山!」又力說這是涼山夷人們的生死關頭,夷人們應全體聯合起來,打下山去,給漢人一個措手不及。蘇咕噠果然入了圈套,决定先打漢人,再打落烏家。但他要試驗他的兒子亞猛是否像他一樣英雄,佯稱打不過漢人的飛機大炮,還是及早投降的好。亞猛大怒,將他父親翻倒在地,跨在身上猛擊,蘇咕噠用力翻身,爬了起來,抱住兒子哈哈大笑。
蘇咕噠年齡雖大,不甘示弱,叫人拿一隻雞蛋來,命烏沙克頂在頭上,他用九子鎗射那雞蛋,角石母愛惜兒子,走過擋住烏沙克,蘇咕噠叫她走開,珊拉娜過去搶了雞蛋,頂在自己頭上,叫蘇咕噠射擊,蘇咕噠哈哈一笑,盛讚珊拉娜
英雄,不愧是硬骨頭大黑夷的女兒,鎗也不再發射了。
亞猛要顯出他的英雄本色,願意隻身去立頭功,將那高懸的天燈取下來帶回涼山。蘇咕噠贊成他去,特派烏沙克陪同前往,並答應烏沙克立功回來,將烏拉娃(鄭玉如飾)許配給他,烏拉娃本來愛烏沙克的,聽了大黑夷這句話,歡喜不盡。
四
席散之後,各自回去準備與漢人大打寃家。烏沙克在馬房裏涮馬修鞍,拭鎗實彈,興奮地準備去立功。角石母四處找他兒子,到馬房才得遇見。角石母吿以二十年前父親被夷人所害的血海深仇,明天單獨陪亞猛去拿天燈,是報仇雪恨的最好時機,她要他在半路上擊斃亞猛,投奔漢兵,帶了漢兵攻上山來,殺死蘇咕噠和珊拉娜,根絶仇家的後代。烏沙克只答應殺死亞猛和蘇咕噠,不願傷害珊拉娜,角石母責以大義,烏沙克內心痛苦萬分。
美姑河邊怪鳥聲起,原來烏沙克和母親講話,忘却幽會的時間,珊拉娜等得不耐煩,便作怪鳥聲叫喚烏沙克,烏沙克忽然想起約會,狂奔出去。
珊拉娜看烏沙克神色有異,責問他遲到原因,他說母親有事,所以躭擱了,珊問他愛母親還是愛她,烏遲遲不能作答。她要求他好好保護她的哥哥亞猛,並送他野人頭髮作護身寶符。烏沙克在情愛與大義的矛盾中痛苦着,但情愛戰
勝了大義,他答應珊拉娜的要求。
翌日晨,蘇咕噠送他們出發,儀節隆重,樂聲雄壯,蘇咕噠贈兒子祖傳寶刀,角石母給兒子備了十天的乾糧。他們走後,色莫乃窩提醒蘇咕噠說,烏沙克究竟是漢人,應該派一夷人隨後監視才好,他們决定派俄洛(周文彬飾)暗暗跟隨在後。
五
烏沙克和亞猛走了兩天兩晚才到照燈坪前的老林中,他們躺下休息,烏沙克在復仇與愛情的矛盾中痛苦着,輾轉無法入寐,他好像一會有角石母的嚴厲聲音在他的耳旁,一會兒有珊拉娜的聲音向他柔聲的低訴。他猶豫,矛盾、痛苦、舉起手鎗擬向亞猛射擊,終又退縮了回來,他嘆了口氣,驚醒了亞猛,亞猛以爲他病了,親自替他到河溪裏取水給他喝,這使烏沙克非常感謝他。
同時在瓦渣家,蘇咕噠在做着莊嚴的祈禱,祈求天神地神,山神祖宗,保護他的兒子,保佑他黑夷們殺漢呷成功。
珊拉娜睡不着,在旁邊的烏拉娃也因憧憬着嫁了烏沙克後的甜密生活,而喜不能寐,她還儍頭儍腦的問珊拉娜,等烏沙克回來,大黑夷會不會把她嫁給烏沙克,珊拉娜帶着醋意冷然的說:「我不知楮道!」
烏沙克在老林裏喝過了水,便和亞猛出發到照燈坪前,等衞兵下班休息,亞猛就爬上旗竿去,烏沙克在下面執鎗望
風,一剎那角石母的喊聲又在他耳邊響了起來,使他復仇的意念油然興起,他胡亂的舉起鎗來,向剛要攀到頂端的亞猛開了一鎗,亞猛應聲跌落塵埃,受傷仆地。烏沙克一時心慌意亂,棄鎗逃走,俄洛跟蹤在後,窺得清楚,正欲上前搶救,看見漢兵多人包圍亞猛,只得回身逃走,飛奔回山報訊。
六
亞猛受傷被擒後,漢兵們把他押解到鄭公祠來,亞猛意識着自己這次必死無疑了。
鄭營長知道了想盜天燈的亞猛,便是有殺父深仇的大黑夷之子,又見亞猛蠻橫傲慢口出不遜,一時感情衝動,想卽以鎗解决了他,劉紳士在旁急行示意止住,說:論私寃應殺亞猛以報不共戴天的仇恨,但以國家民族團結的大義爲念,不應該再相互殺害,寃寃相報。爲爭取夷人們的心誠悅服,精誠相見,必須禮釋亞猛。他叫醫官(趙恕飾)來替亞猛治療鎗傷,但是亞猛還是倔強不堪,說不用再費什麼手脚,痛痛快快的給他一死算了,後來經劉紳士善言勸導,並述說鄭營長不念舊寃,且有對夷族修好的誠意,亞猛聽了大爲感動,漸行就範,鄭營長答應他傷愈之後,親送他回山。
七
涼山上的蘇咕噠和珊拉娜看見亞猛和烏沙克去了三四天音訊杳然,照燈坪上的天燈仍是光亮依然,心裏焦灼不已。俄洛狼狽地逃奔回來,報吿烏沙克竟開鎗打了亞猛,亞猛重
傷後被擒,必死無疑。蘇咕噠痛愛子爲敵人擄去,報復心切,便决心答應了落烏家的婚事,將珊拉娜許配過去,不過以聯合同打漢呷爲條件,他派色莫乃窩前往落烏家說親。
按照涼山的律法,娃子殺死黑夷,娃子須全家償命。角石母被衆娃子用樹枝打到半死,珊拉娜百般求免無用,最後被大黑夷下令用石子投擲她,推她滾跌到萬丈深崖下去,她在垂死前說出她便是鄭良才夫人,爲了報這血海深仇,在夷區中二十年來忍辱含辛,烏沙克的鎗擊亞猛是受她的吩咐,過一兩天烏沙克還會帶了漢兵上山來殺盡瓦渣家全家老小,角石母念家仇已報,含笑的赴死去了。
八
楊團總的陰謀計未成,探知小黑夷亞猛失手被俘,便乘人不查覺的時候潛入亞猛養傷的屋內,鼓他如簧之舌,大肆挑撥離間,並暗授給亞猛手鎗,嗾使亞猛行剌鄭明,以遂他借刀殺人的毒計,他鼓動亞猛說,你把鄭明的頭砍下,帶回凉山,豈不是立一大功!魯莽的亞猛,在他甘言蜜語之下,竟受了他的煽惑。
當夜,鄭營長在燈下披閱公牘,亞猛蛇行攀登到鄭營長辦公室的屋頂,在天窗上瞄準欲射,被鄭驚覺敏捷的閃避在一邊,亞猛發射的鎗彈落了空,鎗聲驚動侍衞們來圍捕,亞猛便再度被捕獲,鄭明細看亞猛所用的手鎗,向亞猛追詰,知道是楊團總暗交給他的,解了他的綁縛,曉以大義,亞猛
聽了感激與慚愧交集,用誠懇的目光,向鄭營長保證回返涼山後,向各夷族宣揚漢人的盛德,共修漢夷之好。
楊團總夫婦罪蹟昭彰,怙惡不悛,鄭營長卽令逮捕看押,並解散擾民的邊區保衞團。
九
色莫乃窩到了落烏家,親事一說便成,落烏家主還自動備了許多財禮,命娃子們吹吹打打往瓦渣家迎親。
瓦渣家也熱鬧地備辦喜事,女娃們準備潑水,給這班壯漢們來個「迎頭痛擊」,男娃們也準備摔角戲嬉。珊拉娜在父親大黑夷的嚴命下,被迫作了戰爭的禮品,內心極感痛苦,像是一隻引頸待宰的小羔羊。
烏沙克在老林中徘徊幾天,最後决定跑回見珊拉娜一面,雖然明知道冒著萬死,也是心甘情願,死無遺憾。
落烏家迎親的娃子們到了瓦渣家,瓦渣家的娃子們趕忙潑水,角力和跳鍋莊,熟鬧非凡。
珊拉娜獨坐在房中,正一籌莫展,不知如何是好,忽聞到怪鳥叫聲,知道烏沙克已經回來,驚喜交集,急偷偷地溜了出來,向美姑河邊狂奔,兩個熱戀着的情人,幾天不見,說不出是甜是苦,珊拉娜吿訴烏沙克說角石母已被處死,這頓勾起烏沙克的舊恨新寃,必欲殺蘇咕噠才甘心,珊拉娜提醒他手無寸鐵,如何敵得過蘇咕噠,色莫乃窩這般人,她說出她肚裏已有了身孕,勸他一同逃到山外再作計較,烏沙克
想想也有道理,便覓了兩匹馬,狂奔下山而去。
當珊拉娜偷偷溜出屋子的時候,只有女娃烏拉娃看見她,暗自跟蹤在後面,她窺見珊跟烏私會,頓生妒恨,又聽到他們計議私奔,便不顧一切,奔回報吿大黑夷,蘇咕噠聞聽怒不可遏,立命色莫乃窩等飛騎追趕,務必生擒回來。
他們在山陵中追逐,上山落谷,最後珊拉娜跌下坐騎來,烏沙克急躍下馬來救護,後面追兵趕到,衆寡懸殊,他們這對苦命鴛鴦束手被擒了。
十
蘇咕噠按着瓦渣家的律法,命將他們倆雙雙處死,在大平壩上堆起柴火,蘇咕噠向天祈禱,娃子們圍繞着熊熊的火焰唱着:「夷跟漢哦不結婚,娃子怎麼能配主人哪……」的凄婉的喪歌,烏沙克和珊拉娜早知他們的命運會有這麼一天,倒也泰
然無懼。活,活在一處,死,死在一起,他們高興的用兩個竹管在一個罎中吸啜着酒,微笑待死,倒是女娃們啜泣不已,烏拉娃更是頻向珊認罪,追悔莫及。
蘇咕噠正發令叫他們躍入火坑內殉情,忽聽得亞猛在遠處飛奔而來,高聲呼叫:「阿大,珊拉娜,我回來了!」亞猛奔到蘇咕達面前,跪下報吿被俘經過,說明鄭營長優待夷人,願和蘇咕噠解除宿仇,所以放他歸山,勸他父親竭誠與漢人親睦,蘇咕噠大怒,舉鎗要擊殺亞猛,呷呷(孫芷君飾)本來是漢人,係被擄入山爲奴的,他憤恨蘇專橫並阻礙漢夷的衷心合作,便擲石塊將蘇咕噠擊死,呷呷隨也被色莫乃窩所鎗殺。亞猛被衆娃推爲家主,他親自釋放了烏沙克和珊拉娜,並告知鄭營長託他在山內找尋他的母親和弟弟,烏沙克自認他就是鄭良才的幼子。
亞猛率領瓦渣家黑白夷,前往迎接鄭營長,亂離了二十年的鄭氏兄弟,也在這邊區上終慶重逢,漢夷兵民,鼓舞歡騰,並肩攜手永修盟好,冺除了過去的隔閡,仇恨,共同致力建設富足、康樂的新中國! (完)
註:夷人在各種失禮事件當中,最忌放屁,以此爲大不敬,夷族男子,褲脚奇大,女子更是祗穿裙而不着褲,往往蹲踞地上,與人談話的時候,在地上遺下一堆大小便,這事他們不以爲奇。可是如果不幸放了一個屁,便覺得很難爲情,女人若犯此規,甚至可以羞憤自殺。
夷區用語釋義
看大涼山恩仇記備忘錄
〔黑夷〕 俗稱在禮族上爲基本者,在血統上是純血類,在社會上是統治者。
〔白夷〕 俗稱白骨頭,在血統種族上爲「混血類」,在種族上是奴屬者。
〔娃子〕 卽漢人奴隸的意思,娃子如同貨物,可以買賣。
〔當家娃子〕 相等于奴隸總管,劉瓊在本片中飾演的烏沙克,便是當家娃子的身份。
〔鍋莊丫頭〕 爲侍候主子及管務,如背水或燒飯等的女娃子,本片中飾演烏拉娃的鄭玉如,便是「鍋莊丫頭」的身份。
〔阿迷忘〕 夷語小姐,未出嫁姑娘的一種通稱。
〔漢呷〕 夷人稱僅人曰「漢呷」。
〔天菩薩〕 夷人男子長大,卽在頭頂,留一撮頭髮,爲靈魂的房舍,稱爲「天菩薩」,除父兄外,任何人誤摸必勃然大怒,認爲莫大侮辱,不惜與摸者拚命。
〔跳鍋莊〕 遇有喜慶樂事,則男女舞蹈以相娛,號曰「跳鍋莊」,本片内之「跳鍋莊」舞,係夷人阿扎慕甘拉惹親自指導。
〔打寃家〕 夷族民風強悍好鬥,往往因小事之爭執,結成歷代不改的所謂「寃家」,次積有宿怨者曰:「打舊寃家」,結新仇者曰:「打新寃家」。
〔筆母〕 相當於漢人的道士,爲倮族中的巫師。本片中王斑飾演之色莫乃窩,卽爲大黑夷之近衞兼筆母工作。
〔四截裙〕 夷女穿裙不穿褲,裙的截數在年齡上有分别,同時裙的長短在階級上頗有區别,愈長者愈高貴。本片中孫景路爲大黑夷之女,長裙委地,搖曳生姿。
〔偷婆娘〕 夷女出嫁後,數日仍囘娘家,此時爲性生活的自由期,相當于試婚,謂之坐家,等到懐孕以後,才囘婆家,卽過正規生活,未「坐家」前的幽會,稱爲「偷婆娘」。
〔財神〕 新搶來奴隸叫「財神」,出門去擄人叫「搶財神」,夷區隨時發生。
YUNG HWA PROUDLY PRESENTS
"THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS"
THE STORY
Remote from the rest of the country, the Lolos live their secluded tribal life on the Yunnan, Szechwan and Sikong border area.
To this wild and desolate region at the edge of civilisation comes Battalion Commander Cheng of the Chinese Army with a mission to end the useless bloodshed between the Lolos and the Hans (Chinese).
He finds that Yang, head of the local militia, and his wife are engaged in trafficking arms for opium with the Lolos and that much of the enmity against the Chinese is fostered by Yang and his cohorts to further their selfish scramble for money.
Cheng and his men choose to stay in a temple, which has been dedicated to Cheng's father — killed by the Lolos — and he reveals his identity. His first act is to re-light the "Lamp of Heaven" — erected by his late father to guide escaping Chinese slaves of the Lolos to a haven of safety — and this light is seen after years of darkness by the Lolos and their Slaves in the hills.
Meanwhile, in the Lolo stronghold, the old Chinese nurse of the tribe — in reality the mother of Battalion Commander Cheng, who was torn from her arms as a boy and lost as she and her other son were captured by the Lolos — sees the light and recalls the slaughter of her husband.
She exhorts her other son, now slave major-domo of the chief's household, to kill the Lolo chief, his son and daughter, whom he loves deeply, despite the fact that there are three distinct classes of tribesmen — the Black Lolos or the ruling classes, the White Lolos or Commoners and the slaves, of which he is one — and that any intercourse among the various strata is entirely forbidden on pain of death.
Treated well by the Lolos, who give their slaves liberty after a time, the son is shocked by the suggestion but, after persuasion by his mother, he agrees to kill the son of the Lolo chief on the latter's way to steal the "Lamp of Heaven". Then he is ordered by his mother to lead the Chinese troops under Cheng (his brother) to the Lolo stronghold.
He wounds the son of the chief but is captured by the Lolos shortly after the chief's son has been made prisoner by Cheng and his troops.
Meanwhile, Cheng releases his prisoner and, with sound reasoning, forgiveness and brotherhood, convinces the son that there are better ways to settle differences than by slaughter and rancour. Thus the son of the Lolo chief and the son of the man who was killed by that chief, join hands in friendship and make their way to the Lolo stronghold, where they are just in time to save the Major-Domo and the chief's daughter from death by fire — the penalty for love between a Black Lolo and a slave.
In a dramatic climax, the old chief is killed and a new generation takes the reins. Peace returns to a blood-soaked land and just deserts are meted out to those who have held the two races in enmity.
Meet the Lolos in “The Sins of Our Fathers”
From back of the beyond — that vast, often inaccessible land stretching from China's south-west to the Tibetan border — Yung Hwa brings to the silver screen one of China's most remote aboriginal people.
Fierce, warlike, proud of their tribal ancestry, the Lolos dwell in the mountains on the border of Szechwan, Yunnan and Sikong. They speak a language of their own and, in their habits and customs, are totally different from the Hans (Chinese), who swept into their native domains ages ago and drove them into the mountains.
Yung Hwa tackled the problem of making a film about this remote people with a thoroughness that has produced a stirring spectacle of every-day tribal life in authentic costumes, with Lola songs and dances faithfully copied.
It was a hard task and, under the able direction of Richard Poh, who was responsible for the "Soul of China", many months of interior and exterior "shooting" were required before the film could be presented to the general public.
The authenticity of the picture is guaranteed by the fact that an actual Lolo tribesman — a rare find! — was on the Yung Hwa sets when filming began. It was he who supervised the making of the magnificent Lolo tribal dress. It was he who advised the director on Lolo dances. And it was he who gave a faithful picture of Lolo habits and customs.
In addition, the technical staff at the Studios studied ancient and modern books on this race and one scholar, Dr. Tseng Tso-lun, who had spent many months in the Lolo area studying their ancestry, background and tribal life, helped the Studios in the technical preparation of the picture.
The result of this thoroughness is a film, which will appeal to all races. Though the story is fictional, it deals with a problem that worried the Chinese for many years — the enmity of the Lolos towards the Hans. It portrays their border depredations, their fiery, quick-tempered character, their simple ways, their courage and their ancient superstitions. In a vivid finale, the film paints a moral — that the people of one land, though of different ancestry, should live side by side in peace and amity. This is the triumph of the younger generations on both sides.
"The Sins of Our Fathers" is a super-production in all aspects. There are grand riding scenes — the Lolos are expert horsemen — and hundreds of extras were retained for the magnificent torchlight scene in which the tribes gather for a war conference. There is a love interest in the romance of a Chinese slave with the daughter of the Lolo chief and, throughout, the tempo is quick and unflagging.
YUNG HWA
MOTION PICTURE SERIAL NO. 6
THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS
A TALE OF THE LOLO TRIBES
IN CHINA'S REMOTE MOUNTAINS
YUNG HWA MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRIES. LTD.
KOWLOON, HONGKONG
大涼山恩仇記
過去的國產影壇,對於一部影片的構成,大都祗偏重於姑嫂公婆間的交惡,或是夫妻男女間的相悅,雖然這是各人的主張見地的不同,可是國產電影業的前程,可能漸漸不克保持其原有的光榮,由盛極而趨於衰落,這是未許樂觀的事實。
本公司對劇本的取材,一向主張在可能範圍之內,儘量採用對國家民族多少有些貢獻的故事,因為電影是一種文學,文學的演進,應該隨時顯着活潑的朝氣,要利用它來提醒我們國家當局對國策上的缺點,同時也要叫將低落了的電影業再高高的昂起頭來。
這部以川康交界夷漢鬥爭爲題材的「大涼山恩仇記」,是由舞台名劇搬上銀幕的,它有它光明燦爛的故事,在舞台上更有它廣大的群衆,它指示民族鬥爭同根相煎的錯誤,它高呼着被壓迫的奴隸該解放。故事的敍述,充滿着朝氣,我們爲了企慕它的故事,採爲劇本。明知攝製上的困難很多,終於我們參照曾昭掄先生的考察,更由夷人顧問阿扎慕甘拉惹的蒞廠指導,加以雄厚的資力克服了困難,經過壹年餘的攝製,嚴格而鄭重的剪接,這部「大涼山恩仇記」很欣幸的在我們的影場上誕生了,我們希望它由於觀衆的愛護而永遠的閃着光燄而不朽。
電影小說
大凉山恩仇記
一
鄭明營長(鮑方飾)奉召晉見邊區綏靖總署的司令長官,長官指着牆上的地圖,說明川滇康邊境的涼山夷務問題非常嚴重,夷族儸儸,生性強悍,多年以來和漢人時起衝突,漢人欺他們無知,夷人恨漢人欺詐,便常結隊下山,焚殺刼掠,強擄漢人男女入山作奴隸,近來夷患日益猖獗,急需派一個幹練的人,帶軍隊入山,作一個妥善澈底的解决。
鄭營長被派定負起這重大的任務,他率領着弟兄們到達邊城雷波,潘縣長(金剛飾)、楊團總(尤光照飾)、楊太太(楊薇飾)、劉承庠紳士(黎明飾)等出城迎接。鄭營長駐驆鄭公祠,說出自已便是鄭公良才的兒子,劉等聽了更加敬重,深慶辦理夷務得人。關于治夷的辦法,楊團總力主痛剿,劉紳士則勸以和平手段宣撫。
鄭營長出巡邊防,潘縣長等都伴同左右,遙見一個英武的夷民少年,在山陵上策馬飛馳,這少年見有漢吏在山下巡査,便放鎗示威而去,這少年是涼山瓦渣家的當家娃子烏沙克(劉瓊飾),自幼被擄到涼山作娃子,生活已經完全夷化了。
鄭明巡査到照燈坪,看見小山上豎着一個高大旗竿,劉
紳士說,二十年前鄭公良才鎮守涼山時,在這竿上掛一隻紅燈,便利涼山出入行旅,和指示被夷人擄去的娃子(奴隸)來歸,鄭明聽了便命恢復舊制,重掛起一盞光亮的紅燈在這矗立雲霄的竿頂上。
二
紅燈光亮照耀了涼山,頓使涼山的夷民們驚駭不已,于是奔走相吿,因爲這燈熄滅了已經有二十年,現在突然重現光明,漢夷的仇恨,象徵着又是死灰復燃了。
瓦渣家大黑夷蘇咕噠,便是二十年前殺死鄭良才的主兇,這時正替他兒子亞猛(羅維飾)娶落烏家女兒作媳婦,在迎親的一天,新娘子在路上放了一個屁,被瓦渣家的娃子恥笑,羞憤跳崖自殺(註),他派了當家娃子烏沙克到落烏家去討還財禮,三天還不回來,他爲這事頗感煩悶。
美姑河是橫貫涼山的一條大河,兩岸叢林蓊鬱,碧茵如氈,怪石嶙峋,奇花送香,風景非常幽美。烏沙克和大黑夷蘇咕噠的掌珠珊拉娜(孫景路飾)暗地裏相戀着,他們常在月色籠罩下的美姑河邊談情說愛,海誓山盟,夷人的律法是不准黑夷白夷結合的,如果發覺他們發生曖昧,必行處死,逼令跳入火坑殉情,一些也沒通融的餘地。烏沙克與珊拉娜明知他們的苦戀是沒有結果的,橫在他們面前是一條死路,但正浮沉在愛河中的青年男女,是不顧一切嚴重後果的。
烏沙克從落烏家回來,先作起怪鳥叫聲約珊拉娜在美姑
河邊會面,珊拉娜應聲而至,三日不見,各訴相思之苦。烏沙克的母親,也就是鄭良才的太太,自從二十年前被擄入涼山之後,在瓦渣家當珊拉娜的奶娘,依涼山俗例改號角石母,烏沙克和珊拉娜兩人從小就在一個搖籃裏長大,烏沙克的母親角石母(舒繡文飾)對於他倆的神祕行動,漸生懷疑,暗暗在旁注視,她看見珊拉娜應着怪鳥聲狂奔而去。
烏沙克在路上遇見角石母,角石母看出他心神不安,嚴厲的教訓了他一頓。烏沙克回見大黑夷蘇咕噠(王元龍飾)報吿在落烏家交涉經過,落烏家不但不肯退還財禮,並且要瓦渣家賠償跳崖死去的女兒的命價——要珊拉娜無條件的嫁到落烏家去,否則落烏家要打寃家。蘇咕噠聽了大怒,說:「沒有一百錠硬銀子,三十件輭銀子,十對牛,四十隻豬,五十對羊,兩桿九子鎗,三對虎耳的財禮,别想討我的花花女!」他決定跟落烏家拚個你死我活,命烏沙克、色莫乃窩(王斑飾)等分頭到山前山後召喚瓦渣家的娃子們,在太陽下山的時候,到他院子裏來集合,一同出發打寃家,瓦渣家的黑白夷都興奮的準備去了。
三
鄭營長自到涼山之後,接到許多控吿楊團總的呈文,說他勾結夷民,欺壓漢人,販賣鎗械來掉換雅片,楊團總矢口否認,恰巧鄭營長手下兵士,捉到偷運鎗械的保衞團團丁,押到營部,楊團總不承認他們是團丁,硬指他們是土匪,鄭
營長叫手下趙連長(戴衍萬飾)仔細審問,再作計較。
楊團總雖然逃過了這一關,但做賊心虛,焦急萬狀,回家後和他素以能幹著稱的太太商量對策,楊太太是雷波婦女會的主席,楊團總的幕後參謀,足智多計狡猾毒辣。她獻計說,一不做二不休,馬上派人上山去煽動夷人,結隊下山來打垮鄭明的隊伍,楊團總就託他太太帶了很重的禮物,祕密上山去見大黑夷,實行她的狡計。
當天傍晚時候,瓦渣家的娃子們紛紛集合於瓦渣家的院子裏,蘇咕噠正在屋內與他兒子亞猛和護衞色莫乃窩等商議與落烏家打寃家的種種準備時,楊太太到了,她花言巧語,說漢人鄭營長帶了飛機大炮,預備打上山來,並揚言:「殺黑留白,踏平涼山!」又力說這是涼山夷人們的生死關頭,夷人們應全體聯合起來,打下山去,給漢人一個措手不及。蘇咕噠果然入了圈套,决定先打漢人,再打落烏家。但他要試驗他的兒子亞猛是否像他一樣英雄,佯稱打不過漢人的飛機大炮,還是及早投降的好。亞猛大怒,將他父親翻倒在地,跨在身上猛擊,蘇咕噠用力翻身,爬了起來,抱住兒子哈哈大笑。
蘇咕噠年齡雖大,不甘示弱,叫人拿一隻雞蛋來,命烏沙克頂在頭上,他用九子鎗射那雞蛋,角石母愛惜兒子,走過擋住烏沙克,蘇咕噠叫她走開,珊拉娜過去搶了雞蛋,頂在自己頭上,叫蘇咕噠射擊,蘇咕噠哈哈一笑,盛讚珊拉娜
英雄,不愧是硬骨頭大黑夷的女兒,鎗也不再發射了。
亞猛要顯出他的英雄本色,願意隻身去立頭功,將那高懸的天燈取下來帶回涼山。蘇咕噠贊成他去,特派烏沙克陪同前往,並答應烏沙克立功回來,將烏拉娃(鄭玉如飾)許配給他,烏拉娃本來愛烏沙克的,聽了大黑夷這句話,歡喜不盡。
四
席散之後,各自回去準備與漢人大打寃家。烏沙克在馬房裏涮馬修鞍,拭鎗實彈,興奮地準備去立功。角石母四處找他兒子,到馬房才得遇見。角石母吿以二十年前父親被夷人所害的血海深仇,明天單獨陪亞猛去拿天燈,是報仇雪恨的最好時機,她要他在半路上擊斃亞猛,投奔漢兵,帶了漢兵攻上山來,殺死蘇咕噠和珊拉娜,根絶仇家的後代。烏沙克只答應殺死亞猛和蘇咕噠,不願傷害珊拉娜,角石母責以大義,烏沙克內心痛苦萬分。
美姑河邊怪鳥聲起,原來烏沙克和母親講話,忘却幽會的時間,珊拉娜等得不耐煩,便作怪鳥聲叫喚烏沙克,烏沙克忽然想起約會,狂奔出去。
珊拉娜看烏沙克神色有異,責問他遲到原因,他說母親有事,所以躭擱了,珊問他愛母親還是愛她,烏遲遲不能作答。她要求他好好保護她的哥哥亞猛,並送他野人頭髮作護身寶符。烏沙克在情愛與大義的矛盾中痛苦着,但情愛戰
勝了大義,他答應珊拉娜的要求。
翌日晨,蘇咕噠送他們出發,儀節隆重,樂聲雄壯,蘇咕噠贈兒子祖傳寶刀,角石母給兒子備了十天的乾糧。他們走後,色莫乃窩提醒蘇咕噠說,烏沙克究竟是漢人,應該派一夷人隨後監視才好,他們决定派俄洛(周文彬飾)暗暗跟隨在後。
五
烏沙克和亞猛走了兩天兩晚才到照燈坪前的老林中,他們躺下休息,烏沙克在復仇與愛情的矛盾中痛苦着,輾轉無法入寐,他好像一會有角石母的嚴厲聲音在他的耳旁,一會兒有珊拉娜的聲音向他柔聲的低訴。他猶豫,矛盾、痛苦、舉起手鎗擬向亞猛射擊,終又退縮了回來,他嘆了口氣,驚醒了亞猛,亞猛以爲他病了,親自替他到河溪裏取水給他喝,這使烏沙克非常感謝他。
同時在瓦渣家,蘇咕噠在做着莊嚴的祈禱,祈求天神地神,山神祖宗,保護他的兒子,保佑他黑夷們殺漢呷成功。
珊拉娜睡不着,在旁邊的烏拉娃也因憧憬着嫁了烏沙克後的甜密生活,而喜不能寐,她還儍頭儍腦的問珊拉娜,等烏沙克回來,大黑夷會不會把她嫁給烏沙克,珊拉娜帶着醋意冷然的說:「我不知楮道!」
烏沙克在老林裏喝過了水,便和亞猛出發到照燈坪前,等衞兵下班休息,亞猛就爬上旗竿去,烏沙克在下面執鎗望
風,一剎那角石母的喊聲又在他耳邊響了起來,使他復仇的意念油然興起,他胡亂的舉起鎗來,向剛要攀到頂端的亞猛開了一鎗,亞猛應聲跌落塵埃,受傷仆地。烏沙克一時心慌意亂,棄鎗逃走,俄洛跟蹤在後,窺得清楚,正欲上前搶救,看見漢兵多人包圍亞猛,只得回身逃走,飛奔回山報訊。
六
亞猛受傷被擒後,漢兵們把他押解到鄭公祠來,亞猛意識着自己這次必死無疑了。
鄭營長知道了想盜天燈的亞猛,便是有殺父深仇的大黑夷之子,又見亞猛蠻橫傲慢口出不遜,一時感情衝動,想卽以鎗解决了他,劉紳士在旁急行示意止住,說:論私寃應殺亞猛以報不共戴天的仇恨,但以國家民族團結的大義爲念,不應該再相互殺害,寃寃相報。爲爭取夷人們的心誠悅服,精誠相見,必須禮釋亞猛。他叫醫官(趙恕飾)來替亞猛治療鎗傷,但是亞猛還是倔強不堪,說不用再費什麼手脚,痛痛快快的給他一死算了,後來經劉紳士善言勸導,並述說鄭營長不念舊寃,且有對夷族修好的誠意,亞猛聽了大爲感動,漸行就範,鄭營長答應他傷愈之後,親送他回山。
七
涼山上的蘇咕噠和珊拉娜看見亞猛和烏沙克去了三四天音訊杳然,照燈坪上的天燈仍是光亮依然,心裏焦灼不已。俄洛狼狽地逃奔回來,報吿烏沙克竟開鎗打了亞猛,亞猛重
傷後被擒,必死無疑。蘇咕噠痛愛子爲敵人擄去,報復心切,便决心答應了落烏家的婚事,將珊拉娜許配過去,不過以聯合同打漢呷爲條件,他派色莫乃窩前往落烏家說親。
按照涼山的律法,娃子殺死黑夷,娃子須全家償命。角石母被衆娃子用樹枝打到半死,珊拉娜百般求免無用,最後被大黑夷下令用石子投擲她,推她滾跌到萬丈深崖下去,她在垂死前說出她便是鄭良才夫人,爲了報這血海深仇,在夷區中二十年來忍辱含辛,烏沙克的鎗擊亞猛是受她的吩咐,過一兩天烏沙克還會帶了漢兵上山來殺盡瓦渣家全家老小,角石母念家仇已報,含笑的赴死去了。
八
楊團總的陰謀計未成,探知小黑夷亞猛失手被俘,便乘人不查覺的時候潛入亞猛養傷的屋內,鼓他如簧之舌,大肆挑撥離間,並暗授給亞猛手鎗,嗾使亞猛行剌鄭明,以遂他借刀殺人的毒計,他鼓動亞猛說,你把鄭明的頭砍下,帶回凉山,豈不是立一大功!魯莽的亞猛,在他甘言蜜語之下,竟受了他的煽惑。
當夜,鄭營長在燈下披閱公牘,亞猛蛇行攀登到鄭營長辦公室的屋頂,在天窗上瞄準欲射,被鄭驚覺敏捷的閃避在一邊,亞猛發射的鎗彈落了空,鎗聲驚動侍衞們來圍捕,亞猛便再度被捕獲,鄭明細看亞猛所用的手鎗,向亞猛追詰,知道是楊團總暗交給他的,解了他的綁縛,曉以大義,亞猛
聽了感激與慚愧交集,用誠懇的目光,向鄭營長保證回返涼山後,向各夷族宣揚漢人的盛德,共修漢夷之好。
楊團總夫婦罪蹟昭彰,怙惡不悛,鄭營長卽令逮捕看押,並解散擾民的邊區保衞團。
九
色莫乃窩到了落烏家,親事一說便成,落烏家主還自動備了許多財禮,命娃子們吹吹打打往瓦渣家迎親。
瓦渣家也熱鬧地備辦喜事,女娃們準備潑水,給這班壯漢們來個「迎頭痛擊」,男娃們也準備摔角戲嬉。珊拉娜在父親大黑夷的嚴命下,被迫作了戰爭的禮品,內心極感痛苦,像是一隻引頸待宰的小羔羊。
烏沙克在老林中徘徊幾天,最後决定跑回見珊拉娜一面,雖然明知道冒著萬死,也是心甘情願,死無遺憾。
落烏家迎親的娃子們到了瓦渣家,瓦渣家的娃子們趕忙潑水,角力和跳鍋莊,熟鬧非凡。
珊拉娜獨坐在房中,正一籌莫展,不知如何是好,忽聞到怪鳥叫聲,知道烏沙克已經回來,驚喜交集,急偷偷地溜了出來,向美姑河邊狂奔,兩個熱戀着的情人,幾天不見,說不出是甜是苦,珊拉娜吿訴烏沙克說角石母已被處死,這頓勾起烏沙克的舊恨新寃,必欲殺蘇咕噠才甘心,珊拉娜提醒他手無寸鐵,如何敵得過蘇咕噠,色莫乃窩這般人,她說出她肚裏已有了身孕,勸他一同逃到山外再作計較,烏沙克
想想也有道理,便覓了兩匹馬,狂奔下山而去。
當珊拉娜偷偷溜出屋子的時候,只有女娃烏拉娃看見她,暗自跟蹤在後面,她窺見珊跟烏私會,頓生妒恨,又聽到他們計議私奔,便不顧一切,奔回報吿大黑夷,蘇咕噠聞聽怒不可遏,立命色莫乃窩等飛騎追趕,務必生擒回來。
他們在山陵中追逐,上山落谷,最後珊拉娜跌下坐騎來,烏沙克急躍下馬來救護,後面追兵趕到,衆寡懸殊,他們這對苦命鴛鴦束手被擒了。
十
蘇咕噠按着瓦渣家的律法,命將他們倆雙雙處死,在大平壩上堆起柴火,蘇咕噠向天祈禱,娃子們圍繞着熊熊的火焰唱着:「夷跟漢哦不結婚,娃子怎麼能配主人哪……」的凄婉的喪歌,烏沙克和珊拉娜早知他們的命運會有這麼一天,倒也泰
然無懼。活,活在一處,死,死在一起,他們高興的用兩個竹管在一個罎中吸啜着酒,微笑待死,倒是女娃們啜泣不已,烏拉娃更是頻向珊認罪,追悔莫及。
蘇咕噠正發令叫他們躍入火坑內殉情,忽聽得亞猛在遠處飛奔而來,高聲呼叫:「阿大,珊拉娜,我回來了!」亞猛奔到蘇咕達面前,跪下報吿被俘經過,說明鄭營長優待夷人,願和蘇咕噠解除宿仇,所以放他歸山,勸他父親竭誠與漢人親睦,蘇咕噠大怒,舉鎗要擊殺亞猛,呷呷(孫芷君飾)本來是漢人,係被擄入山爲奴的,他憤恨蘇專橫並阻礙漢夷的衷心合作,便擲石塊將蘇咕噠擊死,呷呷隨也被色莫乃窩所鎗殺。亞猛被衆娃推爲家主,他親自釋放了烏沙克和珊拉娜,並告知鄭營長託他在山內找尋他的母親和弟弟,烏沙克自認他就是鄭良才的幼子。
亞猛率領瓦渣家黑白夷,前往迎接鄭營長,亂離了二十年的鄭氏兄弟,也在這邊區上終慶重逢,漢夷兵民,鼓舞歡騰,並肩攜手永修盟好,冺除了過去的隔閡,仇恨,共同致力建設富足、康樂的新中國! (完)
註:夷人在各種失禮事件當中,最忌放屁,以此爲大不敬,夷族男子,褲脚奇大,女子更是祗穿裙而不着褲,往往蹲踞地上,與人談話的時候,在地上遺下一堆大小便,這事他們不以爲奇。可是如果不幸放了一個屁,便覺得很難爲情,女人若犯此規,甚至可以羞憤自殺。
夷區用語釋義
看大涼山恩仇記備忘錄
〔黑夷〕 俗稱在禮族上爲基本者,在血統上是純血類,在社會上是統治者。
〔白夷〕 俗稱白骨頭,在血統種族上爲「混血類」,在種族上是奴屬者。
〔娃子〕 卽漢人奴隸的意思,娃子如同貨物,可以買賣。
〔當家娃子〕 相等于奴隸總管,劉瓊在本片中飾演的烏沙克,便是當家娃子的身份。
〔鍋莊丫頭〕 爲侍候主子及管務,如背水或燒飯等的女娃子,本片中飾演烏拉娃的鄭玉如,便是「鍋莊丫頭」的身份。
〔阿迷忘〕 夷語小姐,未出嫁姑娘的一種通稱。
〔漢呷〕 夷人稱僅人曰「漢呷」。
〔天菩薩〕 夷人男子長大,卽在頭頂,留一撮頭髮,爲靈魂的房舍,稱爲「天菩薩」,除父兄外,任何人誤摸必勃然大怒,認爲莫大侮辱,不惜與摸者拚命。
〔跳鍋莊〕 遇有喜慶樂事,則男女舞蹈以相娛,號曰「跳鍋莊」,本片内之「跳鍋莊」舞,係夷人阿扎慕甘拉惹親自指導。
〔打寃家〕 夷族民風強悍好鬥,往往因小事之爭執,結成歷代不改的所謂「寃家」,次積有宿怨者曰:「打舊寃家」,結新仇者曰:「打新寃家」。
〔筆母〕 相當於漢人的道士,爲倮族中的巫師。本片中王斑飾演之色莫乃窩,卽爲大黑夷之近衞兼筆母工作。
〔四截裙〕 夷女穿裙不穿褲,裙的截數在年齡上有分别,同時裙的長短在階級上頗有區别,愈長者愈高貴。本片中孫景路爲大黑夷之女,長裙委地,搖曳生姿。
〔偷婆娘〕 夷女出嫁後,數日仍囘娘家,此時爲性生活的自由期,相當于試婚,謂之坐家,等到懐孕以後,才囘婆家,卽過正規生活,未「坐家」前的幽會,稱爲「偷婆娘」。
〔財神〕 新搶來奴隸叫「財神」,出門去擄人叫「搶財神」,夷區隨時發生。
YUNG HWA PROUDLY PRESENTS
"THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS"
THE STORY
Remote from the rest of the country, the Lolos live their secluded tribal life on the Yunnan, Szechwan and Sikong border area.
To this wild and desolate region at the edge of civilisation comes Battalion Commander Cheng of the Chinese Army with a mission to end the useless bloodshed between the Lolos and the Hans (Chinese).
He finds that Yang, head of the local militia, and his wife are engaged in trafficking arms for opium with the Lolos and that much of the enmity against the Chinese is fostered by Yang and his cohorts to further their selfish scramble for money.
Cheng and his men choose to stay in a temple, which has been dedicated to Cheng's father — killed by the Lolos — and he reveals his identity. His first act is to re-light the "Lamp of Heaven" — erected by his late father to guide escaping Chinese slaves of the Lolos to a haven of safety — and this light is seen after years of darkness by the Lolos and their Slaves in the hills.
Meanwhile, in the Lolo stronghold, the old Chinese nurse of the tribe — in reality the mother of Battalion Commander Cheng, who was torn from her arms as a boy and lost as she and her other son were captured by the Lolos — sees the light and recalls the slaughter of her husband.
She exhorts her other son, now slave major-domo of the chief's household, to kill the Lolo chief, his son and daughter, whom he loves deeply, despite the fact that there are three distinct classes of tribesmen — the Black Lolos or the ruling classes, the White Lolos or Commoners and the slaves, of which he is one — and that any intercourse among the various strata is entirely forbidden on pain of death.
Treated well by the Lolos, who give their slaves liberty after a time, the son is shocked by the suggestion but, after persuasion by his mother, he agrees to kill the son of the Lolo chief on the latter's way to steal the "Lamp of Heaven". Then he is ordered by his mother to lead the Chinese troops under Cheng (his brother) to the Lolo stronghold.
He wounds the son of the chief but is captured by the Lolos shortly after the chief's son has been made prisoner by Cheng and his troops.
Meanwhile, Cheng releases his prisoner and, with sound reasoning, forgiveness and brotherhood, convinces the son that there are better ways to settle differences than by slaughter and rancour. Thus the son of the Lolo chief and the son of the man who was killed by that chief, join hands in friendship and make their way to the Lolo stronghold, where they are just in time to save the Major-Domo and the chief's daughter from death by fire — the penalty for love between a Black Lolo and a slave.
In a dramatic climax, the old chief is killed and a new generation takes the reins. Peace returns to a blood-soaked land and just deserts are meted out to those who have held the two races in enmity.
Meet the Lolos in “The Sins of Our Fathers”
From back of the beyond — that vast, often inaccessible land stretching from China's south-west to the Tibetan border — Yung Hwa brings to the silver screen one of China's most remote aboriginal people.
Fierce, warlike, proud of their tribal ancestry, the Lolos dwell in the mountains on the border of Szechwan, Yunnan and Sikong. They speak a language of their own and, in their habits and customs, are totally different from the Hans (Chinese), who swept into their native domains ages ago and drove them into the mountains.
Yung Hwa tackled the problem of making a film about this remote people with a thoroughness that has produced a stirring spectacle of every-day tribal life in authentic costumes, with Lola songs and dances faithfully copied.
It was a hard task and, under the able direction of Richard Poh, who was responsible for the "Soul of China", many months of interior and exterior "shooting" were required before the film could be presented to the general public.
The authenticity of the picture is guaranteed by the fact that an actual Lolo tribesman — a rare find! — was on the Yung Hwa sets when filming began. It was he who supervised the making of the magnificent Lolo tribal dress. It was he who advised the director on Lolo dances. And it was he who gave a faithful picture of Lolo habits and customs.
In addition, the technical staff at the Studios studied ancient and modern books on this race and one scholar, Dr. Tseng Tso-lun, who had spent many months in the Lolo area studying their ancestry, background and tribal life, helped the Studios in the technical preparation of the picture.
The result of this thoroughness is a film, which will appeal to all races. Though the story is fictional, it deals with a problem that worried the Chinese for many years — the enmity of the Lolos towards the Hans. It portrays their border depredations, their fiery, quick-tempered character, their simple ways, their courage and their ancient superstitions. In a vivid finale, the film paints a moral — that the people of one land, though of different ancestry, should live side by side in peace and amity. This is the triumph of the younger generations on both sides.
"The Sins of Our Fathers" is a super-production in all aspects. There are grand riding scenes — the Lolos are expert horsemen — and hundreds of extras were retained for the magnificent torchlight scene in which the tribes gather for a war conference. There is a love interest in the romance of a Chinese slave with the daughter of the Lolo chief and, throughout, the tempo is quick and unflagging.