Tag Archive for 'Media Development Authority'

SHE’S been known as Doris Young, the executive director of a health foods company. Or as Marrie Lee, the actress of several movies back in the late ’70s and early ’80s. But just over 30 years ago, they called her Cleopatra Wong, a tough, butt-kicking, gun-wielding female action hero.

The movie, They Call Her… Cleopatra Wong, was made by the late Filipino producer/director/writer Bobby Suarez, who passed away last month. And for those who didn’t catch it on the big screen in 1978, the movie will be shown as part of the weekend Spectaculars being organised by as part of the Media Fiesta, organised by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA).

“I think what the MDA is doing with the Media Fiesta is fantastic. It gives the older population a chance to see it again, and lets the younger generation see what it was like back in the day,” said Young. “I was told by the late Bobby Suarez to make it into a DVD, but I was too lazy last time. But now I might just do that — for him and his memory, so that more people may see his work.”

After Cleopatra Wong, Young continued acting in Suarez’s films, including Dynamite Johnson and The Devil’s Angels. These days, however, Doris spends her time running Tisco Pte Ltd, which produces Sun Chlorella.

“The funny thing is, Cleopatra Wong was meant to be a serious movie, but after three decades, you might just laugh at it. I think it’s quite entertaining though.”

Do you cringe watching Cleopatra Wong? I cringe big time! There’s a scene shot in the Chinese Gardens and I had like bashed up some wrestlers and kung fu students. And then suddenly I did this flying leap and landed on the rooftop of one of the buildings. That stunt was just impossible and that to me is the most unbelievable part of Cleopatra Wong.

What was the shoot like? I was very young and inexperienced. Basically a director’s actress, like if the director says, “sit”, you sit. “Stand”, you stand. It was difficult. There were times when I cried myself to sleep. I did my own stunts, like jumping through glass. And it’s real glass, not the candy glass you see in movies. And we only had one piece, so it had to be done right in one take.

Cleopatra Wong is not the first film you made though.

I used to work in a theatre nightclub and there was this bunch of people from Hong Kong or Taiwan, and they were there to watch our local performers. I think they wanted to get some bit players or supporting actors. I was the usher and just as they were taking the lift down, the director slipped out of the lift and asked me if I wanted to be in the movie. I was only 17, so I said yes. They waited for me until I finished work and that was the start. (It) was a Chinese movie, a non-speaking role, called Showdown At The Equator, starring Bruce Liang and Nora Miao. Then I was asked to do Cleopatra Wong.

What was your most dangerous stunt? Well, in The Devil’s Angels, there was a scene where I was riding a bike — I had a cross-dresser on pillion and a lady who was 320 pounds on the sidecar. The scene was a car chase over a ravine. I was trying to avoid a rock on the road but my co-star thought I’d lost control of the bike and tried to grab the handlebars from me, and we hit the rock, flipped over and almost fell down the ravine. Luckily, my co-stars managed to pull on the bike. If they hadn’t I would have gone down with the bike.

Will you get back to acting again? Acting is like a hobby, but if there are interesting roles, I would do it. You cannot predict things. And never procrastinate. When Bobby was ill, he kept asking to see me but I kept putting it off. Then just before Chinese New Year, he passed away. Now I say, “What you want to do, just do it!”

They Call Her … Cleopatra Wong plays March 5, 11.20pm at Cathay Hall 4. Tickets at $5 from the box office.