Dir: Yeung Kung-leong
Scr: Luk Chung (aka Luk Wan-fung)
Orig Story: Sun Ma Si-tsang
Librettist: Poon Yat-fan
Prod Co: Seven Happiness
Cast: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Lam Dan, Fung Wong Nui, Tang Kei-chen, Poon Yat On
1958 B&W D Beta Cantonese Chinese Lyrics 104 min

 

While films render Cantonese opera on screen with various cinematic elements, they also conserve precious vocal performances of numerous operatic masterpieces. Sun Ma Sitsang was a rare performer equally well versed in Cantonese and Peking Opera, he adapted his chef-d'oeuvre into this film with his close friend Luk Wan-fung in 1958. While portraying the ever faithful and devoted Wu Han, Sun showcased his special vocal style ‘Sun Ma Style' by injecting Peking opera vocal techniques into the film's theme song. In the critical scene, Sun's performance of excruciating pain and sorrow before exacting vengeance was also infused with his ‘Sun Ma Style', a perfect marriage of voice and expression that pushed the whole drama towards its climax.