Personals

- PERSONAL -

Linked Page 3 is still in development ... (FB - May 2010)

HONOURABLE EXCEPTIONS - Esther Eng spotters - (as yet incomplete, this section is being updated).

Of course, there exists some record of Esther Eng, otherwise I would not be doing this site. The Hong Kong Film Archive is a vital repository for such materials since Ng Kam-ha, as a prominent figure in HK cinema of the 1930s, "belongs" to both China's Hong Kong and her native America. What follows is no more than a select list of sources and people who have acknowledged at least some of her work.

English-languageInstitutions and writers that have noted Esther Eng's contribution to cinema include: The Hong Kong Film Archive in Sai Wan Ho (in Chinese too); Todd McCarthy [see his "Eng's lost pix a Chinese puzzle" in Variety, Aug. 21-27, 1995, pp 10,15]; catalogs of the American Film Institute (covering 3 of her American-made films); the New Yotk State Archives. See also the author's articles on Esther Eng, including the June 2006 edition of Women of China (June 2006, English edition, Beijing) and his 40th anniversary tribute to Esther published by China Daily at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2010-01/23/content_9365379.htm He also wrote (as sole author) Chapter 5 (on Esther Eng) in the book Hong Kong Cinema: a Cross Cultural View (Scarecrow Press, US, 2004) a history of HK cinema co-authored with Law Kar and Sam Ho.

Chinese-languageApart from contemporary newspapers (e.g., in Hong Kong, USA and Cuba) some comprehensive film encyclopedias and cinema studies acknowledge Esther's existence. I am currently preparing a select list of these books and sources.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (this site)

Frank Bren- Australian playwright, actor and producer who has written or co-written books and articles on Polish and Chinese theatre and cinema . He has produced (and acted in) many of his own plays in Melbourne, London and Amsterdam and is currently progressing several film and play projects. He is currently working on a biography (book) of the great French cine-comic, Pierre Etaix. For more, go to: www.donaldofchina.com or www.snak-themovie.com/frank.html.

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Copyright Frank Bren, 2001 & 2010. Site enquiries via frankmondial@lycos.com Selected images of Esther Eng and stills from her films are reproduced by kind permission of Esther's sister, Sally Ng Kam-ping, the others coming from Frank Bren's personal collection.

(Site design: Frank Bren. Host details - see page 3 of "Personal")

ESTHER ENG

(Ng Kam-ha) 1914 - 1970