User Reviews

If you have no interest in Asian or silent films, then this film will be very, very hard to watch. The film has some horrific over-acting and the film lacks the polish of later Asian films. But, for those who love martial arts films, it is nice to see this early film and see how the genre began.

Let's talk about the over-acting. While by today's standards the acting was shameless by some with is pop-eyed expressions and over-emoting, you need to put it in its proper. This sort of acting was the norm for Chinese plays--where such acting was considered perfectly acceptable. Plus, with a small film industry in the country, it's really not fair to try to compare this output with the polished work of Hollywood.

The story is about a young man and woman who fall in love at first sight--a pretty typical sort of theme. But, her family will not allow the marriage--he is not of her social standing. Through a series of events (including an attack by bandits), however, he is able to prove himself worthy of her love.

The film features some nice martial arts action. While it is NOT of the quality of a Shaw Brothers film, it wasn't bad and once again it represents an early form in the evolution of films. The costumes were lovely and SOME of the acting very good. The most serious shortcoming of the movie, apart from some overacting, was the brevity of the film--it all seemed a bit rushed at only 43 minutes.

This film has survived thanks to a foreign print, with French intertitles. Made for foreign export, it is nevertheless one of the most traditionally Chinese of the silent films still available. It is based on a popular drama by the same name, 'Romance of the Western Chamber'. Set during the Tang dynasty, it is a typical tale of love across class boundaries, a poor scholar and a wealthy woman.

There is a lot to commend in this film: The temple where most of the action takes place is a lovely building, and the costumes and interiors of the temple are also detailed and quite fascinating. There are also nice touches of humour, and also some impressive action sequences consisting of both duels and battles, though without the excesses of martial arts films. The actors do well, though the scholar-hero does wear some unusual (and less-than-flattering) facial expressions at times.

No time is wasted in the telling of the tale, for it flies past in less than 45 minutes, and although the film could have benefited from being presented at a slower film speed (which with silent films is quite variable), I doubt this would have lengthened it greatly (some sites list it at 49 min, which would probably be its length if played at a slower speed). The print I viewed is quite clean and clear, even in interior shots, which is another plus. I enjoyed this film immensely and heartily recommend it.

HERE FOLLOWS A PLOT SUMMARY WITH SPOILERS

The story, in greater detail for the benefit of non-French readers, is one of a poor scholar (Zhang Junrui), who, on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations, sees and falls in love with Yingying, the daughter of the late prime minister, for whom she has come to offer incense. He contrives to offer incense for his own parents so as to meet Yingying. Their meeting is restrained by etiquette, though it seems she may fancy him. Yingying's maid Hongniang does, however, begin to help then exchange love letters and poems, and then meet secretly in the western chamber

Further developments are soon curtailed by Sun Feihu, a brigand chief who has heard of Yingying's beauty and her wealth and besieges the temple with his followers. In temple, Yingying's mother offers her daughter in marriage to anyone that can drive away the brigands. Zhang, by means of a brave monk, has a message delivered to his friend, an army general, who immediately comes to the rescue and vanquishes the brigands.

Yingying's mother offer a large sum of money in thanks to Zhang, but not her daughter's hand. Zhang is disappointed and while trying to study falls asleep. Suddenly the brigand Sun comes in and, in spite of Zhang's efforts carries Yingying away. Zhang's brush magically swells in size, and Zhang rides it after Sun, uses it as a spear against the bandit, and rescues Yingying. He embraces her eagerly, but he wakes to discover she is only his servant boy and he has been dreaming.

Hongniang, Yingying's maid continues to help the two in their amorous affairs. After Yingying's mother discovers her daughter's true feelings, she reluctantly gives her consent to their marriage on condition that Zhang passes the imperial exams with high honours. Zhang leaves for the capital, and comes back, a successful graduate, to finally receive his beloved.