From the Vault: 1967

A Countess from Hong Kong

Starring: Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren, Sydney Chaplin

Director: Charles Chaplin

The film: Charlie Chaplin visited Hong Kong in March 1936, and it was about then that he came up with the idea for what would become A Countess from Hong Kong. He abandoned the project - supposed to be a vehicle for his wife at the time, Paulette Goddard - early on, but resurrected it for a much-anticipated return to the screen in 1967, after a 10-year absence.

The problem was that although the naive romantic comedy might have worked in the 30s, it had little hope of success in a year that was being romantically defined by films such as Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate. Despite the presence of Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren, the film went down in flames and Chaplin never worked again.

The question now is whether the film has aged well enough to be viewed more favourably without the contemporary clutter of the films that overshadowed it. The title might be an eye-catcher for local audiences, but Hong Kong gets comparatively little attention. Chaplin only spent a day in the city, and so does Brando's character, a US diplomat on a round-the-world cruise. We get a couple of shots of Hong Kong streets - apparently Wan Chai and the neon of Nathan Road - followed by studio interiors, but little else apart from an occasional verbal reference.