AKA Six Fingered Strings Demon
1994 - Directed By: - Ng Min Kan
Starring - Yuen Biao, Brigitte Lin, Wu Ma, Carina Lau and Elvis Tsui.
Martial Arts Directors - Meng Hoi and Lee King-Chu
The melody that the title of the film makes reference to is the “Heavenly Dragon Eight Notes”. When played on the magical lyre by someone whose powers are great enough to control the instrument people in the area tend to explode. Six heroes of the martial arts world ally to get the lyre for themselves presuming that to control the lyre is to control the world of martial arts. They attempt to slaughter the family in possession of the prize but the youngest boy, Lun, is hidden from them in the fields. The daughter, Snow, is carrying the lyre with her and backed up against a cliff. When given the option of handing over the instrument to the people who just killed her mother and father or jumping off the cliff she decides jumping is best. The lyre is not heard from again.
Cut to 16 years later. Lun is now a man who has been raised by the Leader of “The Flying Tiger Security Company”. When we catch up to him we find out that he is about to take over the company and has no knowledge of those earlier events. On the same night that Lun takes over responsibility of the company Brigitte Lin shows up as a mysterious stranger with an equally mysterious package to be delivered. Of course those who have raised Lun know what the lyre is and what it’s capable of so the man Lun calls Dad decides to go with him on this escort. It seems like a matter of seconds before they are attacked for the first time and it just gets worse from there. When the package is finally delivered to Hon Suen it contains only the head of his son. This is about the time Brigitte Lin starts making herself, and the lyre, known to those around her. With Hon Suen out of the way there remain five colorful clan leaders desperate for the power of the “demonic strings” and five unpunished murderers that have become the target of Snows lifelong quest for retribution. Master Six Fingers is both anxious and short-tempered. Master Tong Fong Pak looks like a rock star. Master Ghost looks like your average hopping vampire. He isn’t, of course, but he could sure fake it if he wanted to. Master Fire is a mellowed by the years guy who seems at times obsessed with the lyre and at other times deviously contemplative. He has tried to relax but the draw of the lyre and the temptations of its power are just too much for him to completely resist. Master Fire’s student, Tam Yuet Wah, becomes Lun’s love interest. The final remaining clan leader is Ha Ching Fa, also known as “The Cold hearted Seductress”. She is meltingly beautiful and can yank your head of with her whip without even trying. Awesome.
Deadful Melody is a film based on a martial arts novel by Ni Kuang. Yuen Biao has always been, in my opinion, one of the most under-rated stars of Hong Kong cinema. Ti Lung and Lam Ching-Ying as well, but seeing as how they have nothing to do with this film… Biao has acrobatic skill unequalled by many and his martial arts abilities are unquestionably impressive. Biao is also a fine actor with an admirable range. None of these great qualities are really over exposed in Melody and that’s too bad. He is far from wasted but they never really let him shine. It’s a solid performance and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Brigitte Lin is icy and mysterious as usual. Her trademark evil eye stare is well used in a tale of vengeance such as this and although there's the usual gender crossing with Lin there are also moments in the film existing simply to celebrate her enigmatic beauty. It’s a nice contrast that’s achieved. Wu Ma as Master Fire is also a real treat. The man has been working in films for so long it’s almost comforting when I see his name in the credits; he was also credited as the planner for this film. Elvis Tsui gives a very solid run as Tong Fong Pak and Carina Lau is endearing as the cocky and love stricken student. The only characters in the entire film I didn’t care for were the children of Master Ghost but they don’t have enough screen time to really get on the nerves.
This is a satisfying comedy-love-martial arts-revenge movie. The soundtrack by composer Wong Jim is both heroic and epic. There isn’t as much fighting as you might have come to expect from this genre of film - the big scene at the beginning, a couple of scrapes sprinkled throughout and the expected awe-inspiring finale. Deadful Melody is not at all hurt by this lack of interpersonal mayhem. There is such a lyrical (pun fully intended) vision to this one that it’s almost distracting. All of the photography has an appreciable fluidity with lots of low angles and the usual stunning color schemes. Never does Melody go over the top though, as much at home as that style serves a film like Green Snake, for example, it would be out of place here. They achieved a very satisfying balance in this respect. The hyper kinetic editing is also just right and works even during the few instances when speed film techniques are on display. Even though the ending of the film does come across as a little abrupt it’s not so much so that you feel you missed something.