The thrills continue in the second part of this cherished adventure, created by the renowned director Chu Yuan and ingenious novelist Chin Yung. Only the union of the title weapons can save the six remaining martial arts sects who are vying for mastery. So just sit back and enjoy the movie event which spawned a legacy that continues even today with a long-running, internationally loved television series, a role-playing game, and even collectible replicas of the Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre themselves!
Years before he was to become famous for directing Bruce Lee in FIST OF FURY and Jackie Chan in NEW FIST OF FURY, Lo Wei was a popular actor and filmmaker. He had already directed many successful films when he joined Shaw Brothers in 1965. It was there that he directed his first major martial arts movie, but this was one of his last for the studio. It was also one of the last times he teamed with superstar swordswoman Cheng Pei-pei (who is even more famous now for her role in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON). Here she stars as Yen Lai, the one woman who can reunite the Kao brothers to rid the Teng Lung Manor of attacking killers as well as take revenge for the murder of their father. Aided by Shaw Brothers' first international star, Lo Lieh, and award-winning actor Ku Feng, Lo and Cheng collaborate for another high-action winner of brotherly love…and death.
Cheng Pei-pei, Chin Han, Yueh Hua, Chang I, Lo Lieh
Cheng Chung (Derek Yee) and May (Liu Hsueh-hua), a pair of lovers working on the police force, camp on an outlying island. Awakened by a strange sound, May goes out onto the beach where a violent frenzy grips her. After her return from leave, May insists Inspector Wang (Yueh Hua) in a bid to rescue some hostages. She shoots the thug under most peculiar circumstances. Then a series of tragedies occur. Her two colleagues die mangled in a lift accident and Inspector Wang is injured at his desk by a snake. Wang's exorcist sister (Hsia Ping), who performs rites for him, also dies in an accident. And so does a fortune-teller who refused to read May's fortune.
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.
Wang Yu, Chiao Chiao, Li Hsiang-chun, Tien Feng, Huang Chung-shun
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.
Jet Lee stars in this action-packed martial arts drama where two officials were framed by Lord He Sue in the Qin Dynasty. Many years later, their sons sharpen their martial skill in the two Shaolin temples and seek revenge.
As the lead man for "Teddy Robin and the Playboys", one of Hong Kong's most popular 1960s rock-and-roll bands, Teddy Robin makes his debut in this motion picture. Regarded as "City Lights with a Mandarin twist", it's a tale of two misfits in love, with Teddy coming to the aid of a blind girl, played by the beautiful Chin Ping. Teddy also performs all the wonderful hits he composed especially for the film.
Chin Ping, Teddy Robin, Yu Chung-chieh, Yi Mei, Hsu Yu
Film lovers and critics went out of their way to praise this Liu Chia-liang version of the Shaolin destruction and revenge epic. Many called it the preeminent kung-fu director's best and certainly his greatest on the theme of history, martial arts, and family. Little wonder, since, beyond the Shaolin story, it also shows how Liu's own family style of kung-fu, Hung Fist, was created. There are unforgettable sequences throughout, highlighted by Hung Hsi-kuan (the mighty Chen Kuan-tai) and Fang Yung-chun's (the wonderful Lily Li) wedding night... where the lovers inexorably test their Tiger and Crane kung-fu styles in a symbolic treatment of a couple's power struggles. Almost equally unforgettable are the training sequences and a full three titanic confrontations with the White-Browed Hermit (the impressive Lo Lieh), betrayer of the Temple. The critics were right: Liu has out-done himself...as usual!
Hsiu (Winnie Lau) is the girl willing to grow up while Hui Hua (Chan Tak-yong) is the obsessive girl who willingly steps on the road, but has to decide whether to bring her childhood friend with her.
Chan Tak-yong , Winnie Lau , Kwok Chun-on , Michael Tao
"Without a doubt," it was written in the seminal Study Of The Swordplay Film, "Hsu Cheng-hung is one of the key figures in the Mandarin new style." And this is both one of his key films and one of his last for Shaw Brothers. The lovely Ching Li and handsome Chang I star as star-and-sword-crossed comrades who take on the vicious Black Tigers gang in a quest for hidden wealth. There’s action galore, until the final, fiery fight in a temple of treasure.
Ching Li, Chang I, Shu Pei-pei, Lin Ching, Tien Feng
Director Lo Wei himself plays a bully in a fishing village, whose son lusts after a local beauty in this action-filled thriller full of passion and violence.
After beating several famous swordsmen, Chin Wu-hsin (Pai Piao) of the Mo Shan clan challenges Supreme Swordsman (Wang Jung) to a duel, hoping to win his title, and is beaten and humiliated. The winner taunts him to find a Supreme Sword made by Old Eagle, a famous sword-maker (Ku Feng). When his offer to buy a sword from Old Eagle, is turned down, he challenges Old Eagle to a duel, and snatches his sword in a foul play. Old Eagle's own son Shih Yen-peh (Derek Yee) vows to avenge for his father...
Bodyguard Ah Sun is sent to protect his boss' son, only to meet and fall in love with his mistress, the gorgeous Joey. As the love blossoms between the two, the powerful boss finds out and all hell breaks loose!
In Lady With A Sword, Kao Pao-shu showed that women could successfully direct a "heroic swordsman" film using a swordswoman bent on revenge. Kao cast Shaw's darling Lily Ho as the embittered swordswoman searching for the man who murdered her sister. The man turns out to be her fiance' but her nihilistic fate stays true to lone swordswoman form, as to paraphrase Gary Cooper in High Noon, "A woman's got to do what a woman's got to do."
