Drums along the Battlefield

Adapted from the first Cantonese opera by the Hing Sun Sing Opera Troupe, the film was Lam Kar-sing's first opera as leading male in civil and military role and also performed by the same opera cast, leaving a rare celluloid record of the original performance. The theme song ‘Riding in the Snow' created by famed Cantonese opera composer Chu Ngai-kong is also preserved in the film. Lam plays the noble and steadfast young man Ha, a role he renders vividly. In the scene of the ‘Three Appointments', due to dissatisfaction with princess Chui-bik's (Chan Ho-kau) failure to confer his desired position, protagonist Ha refuses the honours three times through an impressive display of dancing swordplay. In the showdown, Lam fully showcases his northen fighting style, clearly cementing his place as a leading role of Cantonese opera.