Miao Ching
Have Sword, Will Travel
Legendary director Cheh Chang directs Ti Lung and David Chiang in the "heroic bloodshed" classic 'Have Sword, Will Travel'. As Hsiang Ting (Ti Lung) escorts silver to the capital, he runs into a mysterious knight, Le I (David Chiang), who becomes his savior.
The Sword of Swords
Jimmy Wang Yu had just exploded into superstardom as 'The One-armed Swordsman' when he teamed with legendary choreographers Lau Kar-leung and Tang Chia for this exciting tale of master martial artists vying for a “weapon of exceptional brilliance”.
Death Duel
This martial arts spectacular showcases 20-year-old Derek Yee, David Chiang’s younger brother, with ample sword fights, beautiful damsels in distress, and a great cast of kung-fu film stalwarts.
Opium and the Kung Fu Master
Tang Chia is considered one of the greatest Kung fu choreographers ever, but he only directed three movies of his own. The first two were weird and wonderful Kung fu phantasmagoricals, but this, his last, is not only his greatest, but one of the greatest ever. Ti Lung, in one of his finest performances, plays Tieh Chiao-san, head of the Ten Kwangtung Tigers, who falls victim to opium, the title drug which crippled China. The tragedies and drama that ensue are as stunning as the Kung fu, created by a superlative team of six martial artists. It leads to a truly unforgettable climax, as a trembling Tieh, still weak from going cold turkey, must face the gangsters who have ruined his town while he was addicted. A legitimate masterpiece and one of the finest, most effecting martial arts movies Shaw Brothers ever produced.
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.
Bat Without Wings
Acclaimed director Chu Yuan was credited for bringing mystery thriller ingredients into his atmospheric martial arts epics, and this is one of the most impressive examples. The title refers to the feared nickname of a notorious rapist and murderer who swoops down to destroy one swordsman’s fiancé and frame another. Or does he? The two tragic men team with a beautiful swords-woman to find the truth – only to discover incredible traps, ambushes, duplicity, avarice, and betrayal between them and the mystery’s final solution.
Full Moon Scimitar
No team of “Martial Arts World” sword-and sorcery epic-makers ever matched that of exceptional director Chu Yuan and best-selling author Ku Lung. This is one of their most powerful and interesting, giving screen idol Derek Yee one of his most challenging roles. Here, he is the ambitious, proud master of the “Meteor” style of swordsmanship, who is brought to the edge of suicide by betrayal. A good woman saves him and brings him to, literally, the Valley of Happiness. But even that’s not enough for the obsessed swordsman, who takes the title weapon (his father-in-law’s wedding gift) and goes on a selfish rampage of violence and sex. Master kung-fu choreographer Tang Chia guides a first rate cast (including king screen villain Wang Lung-wei as the “Immortal God of Eagle”) in one of their most memorable productions.
Heroes of the East
Whether it’s known as "Heroes Of The East" or "Shaolin Challenges Ninja", this ranks as a special favorite among even the most avid fans of legendary director Liu Chia-liang. Ric Meyers, author of Great Martial Arts Movies, the premiere, groundbreaking book on the genre, dubbed it the “Kramer VS. Kramer of kung-fu films” -- only instead of drama, there’s action galore as a Chinese groom and Japanese bride create a loving “kung-fu family feud”. Watch, in appreciative awe, as one Nipponese expert after other tests the skills of Gordon Liu Chia-hui in one maginificent bout after another -- with swords, spears, pikes, karate, and even Sai Seui. The result is a dazzling delight featuring the great “Shoji” Kurata (Fist Of Legend).
Flying Guillotine 2
In 1975, Ho Meng-hua, master of the “esoteric weapon” kung-fu thriller, started an international sensation with The Flying Guillotine. But while he went on to direct such further “crazy cutlery” hits as The Dragon Missile, popular demand insisted upon a sequel to the original decapitator-on-a-chain. So, first, they got a script by a trio of writers, featuring a new, improved “Ring-Chain Flying Guillotine” and the only weapon that can stop it, the “Toothed Wheel”. Next they matched Cheng Kang, the director of their popular true crime thriller The Criminals, with Hua Shan, the director of their superheroes Super Inframan, to double-team the project. Then they cast some of the best martial arts actors in their repertory – all ably choreographed by the often unsung, but universally respected Tang Chia. Finally they filmed Ti Lung as a fugitive from the emperor’s cruelty, against the whole F.G. gang in a blade-on-blade battle to the headless death!
The Anonymous Heroes
A huge success from the golden age of Hong Kong kung-fu, "The Anonymous Heroes" is dominated by two far-from-anonymous cinematic duos. Stars David Chiang and Ti Lung, the most illustrious buddy team in action movies, are joined by the acclaimed behind-the-screen team of director Chang Cheh and martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-liang. The action takes place just after the Chinese Revolution of 1911, an era when the fledgling Chinese Republic was plagued by powerful warlords. But these tyrants find they have met their match in a trio of “anonymous heroes” united by their patriotism and high kicks: the vagabond (David Chiang), the adventurer (Ti Lung), and the general’s daughter (Ching Li). An exciting entry in the David Chiang-Ti Lung canon, and a top ten hit in 1971.
Heads for Sale
Cheng Chang Ho had already established his filmmaking fame in Korea when he was invited to join the Shaw Studio. He created new fame in Hong Kong by directing (and sometimes writing) such action epics as Valley Of The Fangs, The Swift Knight, and this tale of a decapitating swordswoman who will let nothing stand in her way when she falls in love with a bandit’s son. Chiao Chiao, made famous in One-Armed Swordsman, is the girl who won’t let such trifles as craniums keep her from freeing her man from jail. The one villain who manages to keep his head (in every definition of the phrase) is Fan Mei-sheng. The success of this film really helped the director get ahead in just two years he was to helm the very first internationally successful kung-fu film: King Boxer.
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.
Opium and the Kung Fu Master
Tang Chia is considered one of the greatest Kung fu choreographers ever, but he only directed three movies of his own. The first two were weird and wonderful Kung fu phantasmagoricals, but this, his last, is not only his greatest, but one of the greatest ever. Ti Lung, in one of his finest performances, plays Tieh Chiao-san, head of the Ten Kwangtung Tigers, who falls victim to opium, the title drug which crippled China.
The Sword of Swords
Jimmy Wang Yu had just exploded into superstardom as 'The One-armed Swordsman' when he teamed with legendary choreographers Lau Kar-leung and Tang Chia for this exciting tale of master martial artists vying for a “weapon of exceptional brilliance”.
Heads for Sale
Cheng Chang Ho had already established his filmmaking fame in Korea when he was invited to join the Shaw Studio. He created new fame in Hong Kong by directing (and sometimes writing) such action epics as Valley Of The Fangs, The Swift Knight, and this tale of a decapitating swordswoman who will let nothing stand in her way when she falls in love with a bandit’s son. Chiao Chiao, made famous in One-Armed Swordsman, is the girl who won’t let such trifles as craniums keep her from freeing her man from jail. The one villain who manages to keep his head (in every definition of the phrase) is Fan Mei-sheng. The success of this film really helped the director get ahead in just two years he was to helm the very first internationally successful kung-fu film: King Boxer.
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.
The Anonymous Heroes
A huge success from the golden age of Hong Kong kung-fu, "The Anonymous Heroes" is dominated by two far-from-anonymous cinematic duos. Stars David Chiang and Ti Lung, the most illustrious buddy team in action movies, are joined by the acclaimed behind-the-screen team of director Chang Cheh and martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-liang. The action takes place just after the Chinese Revolution of 1911, an era when the fledgling Chinese Republic was plagued by powerful warlords. But these tyrants find they have met their match in a trio of “anonymous heroes” united by their patriotism and high kicks: the vagabond (David Chiang), the adventurer (Ti Lung), and the general’s daughter (Ching Li). An exciting entry in the David Chiang-Ti Lung canon, and a top ten hit in 1971.