This little-seen sixties espionage thriller from Japanese director Inoue Umetsugu boasts a star-studded cast including legendary martial artist Cheng Pei Pei and Paul Chang.
This is one of writer/director Shen Chiang's last films, but it's an incredible action-packed adventure of a female Lone Ranger, decades before Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon made feminist-empowerment kung-fu films an international phenomenon. The wonderful Shih Szu is the title character, with Shaw Brothers' first international star, Lo Lieh, joining her as an adoring associate. Together they track down the dirty deeds and duplicity of a raping and robbing masked bandit, before, literally, riding off toward their next adventure!
The legendary hero Wu Sung (Ti Lung) is sent to a prison in Meng province after murdering his sister-in-law and her lover. While in prison, he becomes acquainted with the prison officer Shih En (Tien Ching), who saved Wu from the baton punishment required for new prisoners. Owing Shih En a favour, Wu Sung finds out that Shih's restaurant "Delightful Forest" was taken over by a local thug (Chu Mu), and decides to help Shih get his restaurant back at all costs.
Lo Wei's reputation was cemented by his being credited as director on both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan's first major starring roles. But before The Big Boss and New Fist Of Fury, Lo Wei was acting, writing, and directing at Shaw Studios. This, however, was his very last Shaw Brothers film - the fabulous tale of a frostbitten swordswoman out to get her parents' murderers. An audience can only marvel at Li Ching's talent as she struggles to cure her hypothermia in time for the final "snow-down."
Li Ching, Yueh Hua, Chang Chung, Tien Feng, Chiao Chiao, Ku Feng
Swordsman Peng fought against many swordsmen and won, so he could not accept his first defeat and wanted to commit suicide. It is at this time that Peng meets the granddaughter of a mystic Sect leader. They fall in love and want to get married. The Sect leader gives Peng the “Full Moon Scimitar” on the condition that he will never leave the sect.
This intriguing effort has more than a touch of both westerns and detective films in the martial arts mix. It lives up to its title as a noble guard is both attacked by bandits as well as betrayed by a relative. Then it's nephew against uncle, daughter against father, concubine against hero, and the law vs. vigilante justice before the last plot is exposed and the lovers are able to ride off into the sunset...
Soon-to-be legendary director Chu Yuan had just joined the Shaw Brothers when he helmed this thriller of bickering bandits. Audiences loved watching three pairs of cunning male and female crooks trying to steal a million gold taels from the Fu Lai Treasury House … not knowing that one of them is actually an undercover hero. Even without him, there's no honor amongst thieves, so the double-crosses and deadly duels come fast and furious, all choreographed by Hsu Erh-niu.
Ivy Ling Po, Lo Lieh, Tsung Hua, Chin Han, Wang Ping
This is a tragic tale about a young girl, played by Ivy Ling Po, who gets married and has five kids. She and her husband later die, forcing one child to be sold into prostitution to feed the other four. Chinese culture dictates that great respect is given to the elders and in this film, it is an elder that is the hero, telling audiences that although sadness abounds, they can return home happy so long as they remain with Confucian's teachings.
Wen Su Chen, the leader of seven knights, sends his six sworn brothers to investigate a monastery. Unfortunately, they are killed by an abbot who plans to murder Inspector Lin. Wen saved Lin and battles the abbot to avenge his dead sworn brothers. With Lin and his army’s help, they bring down the ruthless monks in the monastery.
This is Jenny Hu's stunning debut as a struggling singer who tries to keep her career and marriage intact. This movie also includes seven memorable hit songs.
Peter Chen Ho, Paul Chang Chung, Jenny Hu, Lily Ho
Veteran filmmakers unite for one last blow-out before they make way for the new talent. Director Yen Chuan started acting in 1949 and directing in 1953, scripter Soong Shiao-waung started writing in the 1950's, star Ling Yun started acting in the 1960's. They all combine their proven talents for this tale of the Dragon Sword and the evil Security Agency guards, sensual swordswomen, and notorious bandits who want it.
Linda Lin Dai gives a soul-stirring performance as a real-life beauty that is tricked into sacrificing herself for the good of the Chinese people. Truth is revealed too late, and she kills herself. Life imitates art and years later, Linda committed suicide.
Lin Dai , Chao Lei , Hung Por ,Wang Yueh-ting , Chang Tsui-yin , Li Yin
This is adapted from Louis Cha’s “The Book and the Sword”. A young swordsman is tasked to lead a patriotic secret society to fight the traitorous general who colludes with the enemy. At the same time, he encounters a female warrior and two beautiful princesses, and is caught between all their affections for him.
Japanese director Inoue Umetsugu takes on the glitzy world of nightclub performers in The Yellow Muffler. The film depicts the struggle of two singing sisters, Ching-ping (Irene Chen I-ling) and Pai-hung (Betty Ting Pei) and ends when they are cast in a new movie.
Betty Ting Pei, Tsung Hua, Paul Chin Pei, Irene Chen
