Lei Cheng
The Trail of the Broken Blade
Jimmy Wang Yu stars in Cheh Chang's 'The Trail of the Broken Blade', a sword hero tragedy similar to 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'.
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Blood Brothers
Made at the peak of the martial arts film craze, "Blood Brothers" stands out against the run-of-the-mill kung-fu flicks that flooded the market in the 1970s. It would be hard to find more legendary names in front of and behind the camera: director Chang Cheh, who virtually reinvented the genre; the brilliant martial arts choreography by Liu Chia-liang, before he himself embarked on a directorial career; and the number one buddy team in kung-fu, Ti Lung and David Chiang, joined by Shaw Brothers newest superstar, Chen Kuan-tai. Set in the waning years of the Ching Dynasty, Blood Brothers tells of one of the most sensational scandals in Chinese history, the assassination of a provincial governor (Ti Lung) by his lieutenant and sworn brother (David Chiang). Ti Lung, in a complex role that allowed him to flex his thespian muscles, was honored with Golden Horse Award of Outstanding Performance.
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Valley of the Fangs
The team of director Cheng Chang-ho and star Lo Lieh would become well known for King Boxer – the first internationally successful kung-fu film…even before Bruce Lee became a star. This stirring saga of the “Martial Arts World” helped them prepare for that breakthrough. As with King Boxer, Lo Lieh plays the righteous hero, trying to protect another hero’s wife and daughter from a corrupt minister’s murderous plans. Li Ching, who would later star in Sexy Playgirls and Sexy Girls Of Denmark, is the object of Lo Lieh’s protection, while Wang Hsia, from The Secret Of The Dirk, is the dastardly villain. Cheng Chang-ho films it all in his customary sumptuous style, making it a fascinating companion piece to his subsequent worldwide phenomenon.
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The Wandering Swordsman
The charismatic David Chiang joins the queen of Shaw Brothers kung-fu, Lily Li, in an entertaining Martial Arts world epic about a hero who robs the criminals and gives to the poor – making the vengeful robbers very cross indeed!
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The Assassin
In the same year, director/writer Chang Cheh and star Jimmy Wang Yu revolutionized Hong Kong kung-fu cinema with One-Armed Swordsman, they also collaborated on this epic of the Six Kingdoms era. Here, Yu is a two-armed swordsman who is also a Wei Empire patriot. Inside the Han Empire, Han Kuei who comes from the royal family, is actually assumed full power and he wants to eliminate loyal officer Yen Sui. Later, our main character is betrayed by a jealous rival and becomes a village butcher. When he meets Yen Sui accidentally, he is sent back on the road of vengeance. Chiao Chiao, the lovely and talented costar of One-Armed Swordsman, here plays Hsia Ying, the love of the hero’s life, and the strong woman who survives to protect their child.
Apple TVThe Wandering Swordsman
The charismatic David Chiang joins the queen of Shaw Brothers kung-fu, Lily Li, in an entertaining Martial Arts world epic about a hero who robs the criminals and gives to the poor – making the vengeful robbers very cross indeed!
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The Flying Dagger
“Godfather of the kung-fu film” Chang Cheh, is famous for introducing the revolutionary concept of “yanggang” (macho) martial arts movies – paving the way for Bruce Lee, among many others. Until then, female stars (often in male swordsmen roles) ruled the screens. So this collaboration between writer/director Chang and swordswoman supreme Cheng Pei-Pei (now famous for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) is exceptional indeed. Here she plays a righteous woman warrior who incurs the wrath of a “flying knife” master after she kills his rapist son. Lucky for her that an honorable dagger master played by Lo Lieh (the star of Shaw Brothers’ first international kung-fu hit King Boxer) is on her side. Although extremely attractive when she only played heroes, Cheng could hold her own with any man, freeing Chang to create the best of all possible martial arts worlds.
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The Deadly Duo
It’s the Sung Dynasty versus the Chin invaders as the “Iron Triangle” of director Chang Cheh and stars David Chiang and Ti Lung truly hit their stride with this crowd-pleasing kung-fu epic. When a handsome Prince is taken captive and guarded by a martial arts master, it’s up to two powerful patriots to fight overwhelming odds to pull off the impossible: rescue the royal son and get out of the Chin stronghold alive.
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