Filmed on location on the beautiful volcanic Lanyu Island (Orchid Island) on the Pacific Ocean off mainland Taiwan, this is a romantic drama concerning a returning overseas young Doctor He Wei De (Paul Chang Chung) who has decided to run a small clinic there, while he's also looking for his long lost father. Furthermore, he has broken up with his fiance Bai To Na (Lily Ho Li Li) and is keen for a new start, away from the mainland.
There are no hotels or civilization on the remote Lanyu Island, it's inhabited by the Ya Mei natives and their Chief. However, trying hard to convert the locals is Priest Giger. Elsewhere, planning to overthrow the Chief is an ambitious evil medicine man Ba Da (Wang Chung Hsin). Above all, there‘s the beautiful native orphan girl Ya Lan (Cheng Pei Pei) who has taken a shine to Dr. He, eversince he arrived on her island. Apparently there're also red worms which are fatal to humans if they get bitten. Luckily for them, the good doctor is here to find a remedy, a task started by his doctor father. Immediately, Ya Lan is assigned as a nurse to help him out and the two fall in love in no time. In the meantime, the jealous Ba Da is cooking up a scheme to get rid of him and making things worse, his ex-fiancée has decided to visit the island.
Originally from Vietnam, Pan both directed and filmed “Lovers' Rock” (1964) in Taiwan starring a young Cheng Pei Pei in her debut and Chiao Chuang. In “Song of Orchid Island”, viewers are treated to the remote beauty of Lanyu Island on the southeast coast of Taiwan and populated by the Ya Mi indigenous people. Apparently, out of the population of two thousand living there then, over half of them appeared in the filming as extras. According to their custom, they greet their friends by rubbing their backs but if they're lovers, they rub noses instead. Interestingly, Shaw Brothers constructed the church seen in the movie and after filming ended, it was donated to the local Father Alfred Giger who actually portrays the Priest who takes in the orphan Ya Lan.
Besides showing the traditional customs and life of the locals, Pan's Orchid Island is a postcard of beautiful sunsets, blue skies, green rolling hills inhabited by healthy looking and golden-brown people. Furthermore, thanks to cinematographers Hung Ching Yun and Fan Tan plus their use of underwater photography, we witness some natives diving and collecting huge sea shells. But the highlight has to be the gorgeous vintage 60s airliner at the airport during the opening shot.
This is definitely a Cheng Pei Pei movie: with her tanned skin and long black hair; she truly shines as the beautiful and the perfect island native girl with a tomboyish look. Furthermore, be it in performing in some local ceremonies or just skipping on those beautiful beaches, her training in dancing sure comes in handy here. Leading man Paul Chang is in his element and confident as the handsome doctor on a mission but he looks slightly older next to the teenage Cheng.
The rest of the supporting actors embrace their parts adequately, Wang Chung Hsin has a meaty role as the evil, greedy medicine man and provides the predicted action at the end fight, after all, this is a Shaw production. Elsewhere, Wang Hsieh is almost unrecognizable as the son of the local Chief who takes a shine to Ya Lan. In a much smaller role, Liang Erh plays the photographer's assistant Ah Ding and provides the overall comedy relief. Lily Ho, in her debut and playing Dr. He's rich fiance, stands out the most. It's a delight to see her arriving with her entourage dresses in the latest fashion and behaving in a totally spoiled manner.
Overall, this is a still a fun and entertaining feature even though it's set in a bygone era. For a start, there's Cheng, a natural beauty who absolutely commands the screen, chewing up the scenery on her way to stardom. Equally impressive is the effective portray of the unique Orchid Island locations and its natives.
