Dir: Yeung Kung-leong
Scr: Luk Chung (aka Luk Wan-fung)
Prod: Luk Wan-fung
Prod Co: Seven Happiness
Cast: Ho Fei-fan, Lam Dan, Leung Sing-por, Mak Bing-wing
1959 B&W D Beta Cantonese 102 min

This is a sing-song film in the ‘soft-core opera' format popular in post-war Cantonese cinema, with more naturalistic acting and toned-down musical arrangements that extended the appeal beyond die-hard opera fans. The story is set in the Warring States period and based on the historical story ‘King Or assassinates the Qin Emperor', spinning the yarn around the palatial intrigue that culminates in the famous assassination attempt. Despite having an all-star cast featuring opera big-names like Ho Fei-fan, Mak Bing-wing, Lan Chi Pak and Leung Sing-por, the production avoids focusing on them, widening the narrative scope instead to include a varied cast of historical figures. Director Yeung Kung-leong stages his scenes with orchestrated mise-en-scène that highlights the interactions among his actors, packing the film with powerful drama. Luk's wife Lam Dan, being the lead actress, lights up the silver screen with her elegant temperament.