Starring the stunning, teenage heartthrob Pat Ting Hung, The Butterfly Chalice marks the important directing debut of the kung-fu film genre's most principle figure Chang Cheh, as he burst the martial arts and swordplay movie doors wide open, announcing the beginning of the end for the Cantonese musicals.
In The Sword And The Lute, Kwei Wu (Jimmy Wang Yu) and his partner (Chin Ping) are on a mission to destroy the "Phoenix Lute", a deadly weapon that shoots poisonous needles up to 500 paces and which can only be destroyed by the Kan curved sword...
Costume drama auteur Li han-hsiang adapts thee erotic and mystic tales from the Chinese classical literatures and visualizes them on screen into an instant cult classic. Starring the hottest stars Tien Ni, Hu Chin, Chen Ping, Yang Chun, and Yueh Hua, the stories span across time from the Tang to Ming dynasties, filled with exotic characters such as emperors, concubines, monks, and fortune-tellers, intertwined in a world of adultery, lust and greed. Costume drama buffs should not miss it.
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.
Chiao Chiao, Chen Liang, Wang Hsieh, Ching Miao, Chang Pei-shan
As its name implies, Songfest is an Eastmancolor-Shawscope costume musical, traditionally Chinese and timeless in content; yet revealing a spirited and modern technique. Shot on location at Taiwan's beautiful Sun-Moon Lake, it's a turbulent romance between a passionate tea picker Sung Yu-lan (Margaret Tu Chuan) and a charming fisherman Li Chun-yang (Chiao Chuang).
Margaret Tu Chuan, Julie Shih-yen, Chiao Chuang, Lily Ho
Long before he became internationally famous for directing Bruce Lee's first film and giving Jackie Chan his big break, Lo Wei was famous for his acting. He was, in fact, a wellknown matinee idol in the 1950's. He enjoyed appearing in front of the camera throughout his career - even in his five years working at the Shaw Studio. This was one of his most central roles, as the loyal swordsman ShangkuanHao, leader of the Black Dragon Clan. Sharing the screen with him was swordswoman supreme Cheng Pei-pei, the lovely and luminous superstar who also created an international stir with her one and only villainous role (in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). Here she is as most fans love her best: the heroic woman warrior who saves the country. But she must face the duplicitous White Dragons, the Flying Leopard, and the Red-headed Monk, among others, to secure the throne and safeguard a hoard of treasure.
Cheng Pei-pei , Yueh Hua , Wu Fung, Lo Wei, Tien Feng
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.
Cora Miao plays Liang Pao-erh, a woman whose life is shattered when she discovers her husband (Hollywood star Chow Yun-fat) is keeping a mistress (Cherie Chung Cho-hung). When her repentant husband begs forgiveness, Liang is forced to decide on what she truly wants.
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.
Featuring two alumni that got big breaks starring in Bruce Lee films: Nora Miao, Bruce Lee's love interest in "The Big Boss", "Fist Of Fury", and "Way Of The Dragon"; and Liu Yung, who co-starred with Bruce in "The Big Boss" and "Fist Of Fury". In this film, Miao plays a country girl saved by a hero while Liu is her jilted lover trying to get her back. The plot has more twists than a soap opera.
One of Shaw's darlings of the screen, Lily Ho (Casino, The Water Margin) gives a heart-warming performance as Chef-chi, in this Cinderella comedy and romance. At a party, Chef falls in love with the son (Lin Feng) of a rich man that her father (Cheng Chun-mien, Hong Kong's answer to Elvis Presley) works as a chauffeur for. Being from such a poor family, Chef can't reveal who she is or what her father does for a living. Her father is furious that she has fallen for the boss' boy; does she have no class conscience? Mayhem, drama and a run of hilarious circumstances ensue. This asks us, can love truly cross class boundaries?
This heroic tale of the Sung Dynasty patriots was one of top three films of 1970, and winner of "Outstanding Drama" at the 9th Golden Horse Awards. The evil minister uses the twelve golden medallions, the highest imperial decree, to summon war hero Yueh Fei back from the frontline and execute him. A group of wandering warriors, led by Yueh Hua and Chin Ping, try everything they can to stop the medallion couriers.
Chin Ping, Chiao Chiao, Yueh Hua, Wang Hsieh, Yang Chih-ching
Da Yung is the son of an entrepreneur of a big corporation. Lian Lian is the niece of a Kindergarten’s principal. Fate has brought them together as Da Yung loses his wallet by mistake when they first met. Further misunderstanding occurs when Da Yung tries to use Lian Lian as an excuse to drive the two women he does not love away. Legendary actress and Golden Horse winner Joan Lin stars in this romantic comedy.
Smash-hit sequel to COME DRINK WITH ME combines the talents of Chang Cheh, Lau Kar Leung and stars Cheng Pei Pei, Lo Lieh & Jimmy Wang Yu for an action-packed kung-fu romance.
