Yeh Feng: Kim Novak of the East

From International Screen No. 42 (April, 1959)

This post goes out to YTSL, who made a special request for something about the sultry Julie Yeh Feng. Here's an article from International Screen No. 29 (March, 1958), published a few months after Julie's debut in Our Sister Hedy (1957). You can view the original article here.

Yeh Fung, Kim Novak and Bai Kwong

Movie fans in these parts have crowned Yeh Fung, screenland's new siren, who is fast skyrocketing to fame, with the nickname "Kim Novak of the East". This moniker is quite fitting, seeing that both of them are tall, slim, bewitchingly beautiful and have that extra something sometimes known as "innate sex appeal". Besides, both are comparatively new comers. As this appears in print, only one of Yeh Fung's pictures, "My Sister Hedy", has been shown. The other two vehicles of hers, "Air Hostesses" and "The Wayward Husband", have yet to have their premieres. And yet she has already left a deep impression on movie fans.

Others have called Miss Yeh "Bai Kwong the Second" — Miss Bai is, of course, Mandarin movieland's best known "sexy wanton". Yeh Fung possesses Bai Kwong's low and magnetic voice and unique singing style. What's more, both appear lackadaisical but really emit some indescribable flame which well nigh hypnotizes people within their range of fire.

But when one asks Miss Yeh what she thinks of these nicknames, her answer is short, straightforward and to the point: "I am just myself." She is just that kind of girl, entirely without false modesty or pride. She is but natural.

In the near future, movie-goers will see more of her personality as she so ably projects it on the screen. They are going to like it.

You can definitely feel the heat of Yeh Feng's "indescribable flame" in the following clip from Our Sister Hedy. If after watching it, you find yourself tantalized, don't resist — go and order a copy of this truly classic film while you still can. The DVD is out of stock and no longer available at many retailers, but HMV Hong Kong still has copies!