(1937) Ye Bang Ge Sheng. (Also known as Song at Midnight, Midnight Song)

Dir: Maxu Weibang Cast: Jin Shan (Song Danping), Hu Ping (Li Xiaoxia)

Music by: Xian Xinghai

More Information at: IMDB

Voted number 77, in a line up of the 100 best Chinese films, at the 2005 Hong Kong Film Awards! LINK

Learn more about the music HERE

Learn more about the DVD releases HERE

Our movie opens with what I believe is a nod to the Chaney film, in that we are first introduced to a lantern man. I have no idea what cut of the silent film was actually released into Hong Kong during the time that Weibang would have first seen it, but if it was a version that included the lantern man speaking to the viewer, then my theory is that this is a direct reference. We are then introduced to a traveling troupe of actors, who discover the abandoned theater that was once where Song Danping (Who will later turn out to be our Phantom.) once had his glory days. The young star of the acting troupe, (A young man whose name I did not catch, I apologize.) is a bit untrained and has trouble singing the troupes new work. But in the wings of the theater, Danping hears great potential in the young man, and begins singing to him from a distance, thus inspiring him to keep trying.

Somewhere around this point, we get the background on Danping. He was once a famous singer, who fell in love with, Li Xiaoxia, the beautiful daughter of an evil lord. The father then had him beaten and disfigured by acid for the great offence. In his absence, and believing Danping to be dead, Li Xiaoxia goes insane. To afraid to show his hideousness to her, Danping has waited all these years to find another young man, which a voice as beautiful as his own, so that he can train him to take his place on both the stage. Danping is also hoping that once Li Xiaoxia hears his young star voice, she will be compelled to think that it is really Danpang himself, come back to her after so many years of absence. During this rather long explanation, is maybe the most incredible scene in the movie, which is the unmasking on Danping. Once the bandages have come off and everyone has rushed back against the wall from the site, Danping goes and looks at himself in the mirror. As he glance into the mirror, the camera is out of focus. Its almost as though as he becomes more conscious of the horror of himself before him, the camera itself gains a sharper consciousness as well. And then in an attempt to take in the site even more he draws a candle closer to his face. Jin Shan is so into the scene, that he actually burns his own face with the flame of the candle for a second - its a very freaky little moment.

What is revealed is some of the nastiest and most painful looking makeup work I have ever seen. The effect is terrifying, and was enough to even make this hardened gore hound flinch a little. Jin Shan is amazing in this scene, as he is through out the rest of the film. The voice on that guy is just inhuman at times -I love it. The director, Maxu Weibang had quite a lot of Lon Chaney in him, and is the one responsible for all of the amazing make up in this film. He would also do the makeup for the Phantom character years later when he made this films sequel,Ye Bang Ge Sheng 2 (Midnight Song 2.)

When we arrive back from the flashback, Danping trains the young man so well, that indeed, the mad Li Xaioxia truly thinks that Danping has come back to her again. The young man triumphs on the stage, and becomes a huge star. Danping is overjoyd to have made Li Xiaoxia happy once more, but also becomes incredibly depressed at the same time.

Later on, Danping is finally able to exact some revenge on those that disfigured him. There is a very long fight sequence, (Which is a little unintentionally funny.) where Danping dukes it out with his ex-lovers father. (I think.) I have to admit the language barrier thing really stands in the way here, because I really don't understand exactly how we reached this very action packed and violent conclusion. My fogginess on this section of the movie is hardly the films fault. Like the Chaney film years before, this movie also ends with the Phantom running away from a huge and angry mob. (Another possible nod in Universals direction.) Danping is ultimately chased into a tower, which is then set on fire where he is burned to death.... Or is he?

The original songs written for this movie by Xian Xinghai are also great. I find myself trying to sing along every time I watch it, even though I have no idea what they are saying. The music was apparently a pretty big factor in why this movie was such a massive hit when it was first released.

Many sources on this film call in the very first Chinese horror movie. If that is true or not, I am not entirely sure. Either way, this is an incredible movie, with one of the scariest and most disfigured Phantoms I have ever seen. There are some extremely haunting images in this movie, and although the pacing can be a bit much at times, the power of Jim Shan's performance, the awesome makeup and the very haunting songs make the effort of finding this so worth it.

If you have any interest in Phantom or Asian horror movies at all, this is not one you should allow to remain a secret any longer. And if you Phans out there find your selves drawn to the really tragic adaptations, then this is the one for you. Love stories just don't get much more tragic!

FURTHER READING!: My biggest source of information on this was from a book called Fears Without Frontiers, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Its basically a collection of essays about international horror directors. Included is an essay by David Robinson called Return of the Phantom: Maxu Weibang's Midnight Song. Great book, and has great information and great photos from both the first two Midnight Song movies. You need it! Grab it at: Amazon.com

http://mclc.osu.edu/jou/abstracts/braester.htm (Another Essay)

http://venus.unive.it/asiamed/cina/schede/midnight.html (Another Essay)