I found this Chinese film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it is often referred to as China's first horror film, there are not a lot of details available about the cast, and not many critic reviews for it, so I watched and made my own mind up. It is loosely based on The Phantom of the Opera by Gasto Leroux (the classic Lon Chaney movie was released twelve years before). Basically mysterious musical genius Song Danping fell in love with the daughter of a wealthy lord. He was beaten, scarred with acid and left for dead years ago in the burning wreckage of the old opera house. Following his disfigurement, he refused to let his lover see him, so he asked someone to write a letter telling her that he was dead. He now looms in the revuilt traditional Chinese opera house, he is looking for someone to star in his own private production, he takes and punishes any person that offends him. It was only a matter of time before his lover returned, she does not appear to have found a new love but being deformed he cannot bring himself to reunite with her. Most of the time he covers himself with his dark cloak, and the only time his lover connects with him is hearing him singing from a distance. There is also a political subplot going on involving the leftist revolutionary movement. Starring Menghe Gu, Ping Hu, Shan Jin, Chau-Shui Yee and Wenzhu Zhou. It may be dated in some regards, but it does have some good macabre drama, the face reveal sequence is most memorable, the singing and music is enjoyable listening, and despite it being a familiar story, it does work well, all together it is a worthwhile classic horror. Good!
Review of Song at Midnight
