THE SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970) #054

THE SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970)

Runme Shaw produces Hsu Tseng-Hung's last directed movie for Shaw Brothers Studios: THE SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970). Hsu Tseng-Hung is the most famous director you do not know: he directed the very first movie in the wuxia genre, the wonderful BUT underrated classic, Temple of the Red Lotus (1965) [as well as the two sequels: The Twin Swords (1965) and The Sword and the Lute (1967)]. THE SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970) was released on October 24th, Yat Fong is the script writer and Tang Chia does the fight choreography all by his lonesome. The movie is told in an complex manner but it is really a simple two-party treasure hunt. Let's get busy!

A large army of robbers lead by one, Pa Tien Wang laid siege to the City of Liu for three months forcing its citizens to flee but not before pooling their most precious valuables together in single lock-box. The Liu City treasure's location was kept secret and try as they might neither the robbers nor Pa Tien Wang was able to get their hands on the treasure. 

Twenty years later, Madame Liu returns to the village where a group of the former citizens of Liu City have hidden out. She is mortally wounded by members of The Black Tiger Gang. The Black Tiger Gang are a band of notorious robbers that have learned about the Liu City Treasure Lock-Box and wants it for themselves. Madame Liu had been out searching for some of the missing citizens of Liu City especially a female child named Liu Ching Ching who is the rightful heir of the City of Liu and true custodian of the treasure. Madame Liu had gotten a lead on the child's whereabouts when she was ambushed. On her deathbed, Madame Liu assigns her four students the task of finding the heir Liu Ching Ching and restoring the treasure to the survivors of Liu City. 

Meanwhile The Black Tiger Gang locate and kidnap Liu Ching Ching with the hopes of discovering the location of the Liu Treasure but are coincidentally discovered by Da Law School senior member Zhou Ying Long, who is the sole wielder of the deadly Da Law Sword. Zhou Ying Long is a true knight errant of China and rescues Liu Ching Ching and takes the responsibility to escort her home. 

On the way to bringing Liu Ching Ching back to her home, Zhou Ying Long and Ching Ching both pass by Madame Liu's four students' camp and the students overhear Liu Ching Ching identify herself. Madame Liu's four students decide to acquire Liu Ching Ching but without her permission. By doing so, they become in direct competition with The Black Tiger Gang but with Zhou Ying Long and the Da Law School sitting smack in the middle of the conflict for the Liu City Treasure. The story continues with twists and turns and red herrings but only at the very end do we learn THE SECRET OF THE DIRK. 

Liu Chai-Yung, David Chiang, and Wang Chung starting second from left going left

CAST REPORT

the good: Ching Li as Ming Chu. Chang Yi as Zhou Ying Long. Shu Pei-Pei as Liu Ching Ching. Lin Jing as Madame Liu. Helen Ma Hoi-Lun as Xiao Lan. Cliff Lok as Xiao Ying. Fang Mian as General Liu Tsing. 

the bad: Tien Feng as Wang Shan Hu. Chiu Hung as Wan Tai Zhi.

HONORABLE MENTION: Tang Chia, Chen Kuan-Tai, David Chiang, Liu Chia-Yung and Wang Chung all have minor roles as members of the Black Tiger Gang. 

FIGHT TIME: THE SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970) was fight choreographed solo by Tang Chia. I counted eight (8) fight scenes, most of them were very short but exciting. Some of them seemed pretty chaotic but they were few in number. The movie's finale was excellent, even though it stopped just a little sudden for me there was plenty of tension and excitement as the fights went back and forth from one on one to one versus many from Ching Li's fights to Chang Yi's fights and some shots showing both at the same time. Kudos!

HONORABLE MENTION: There were two honorable mentions, one was the Da Law Sword, a fantastic weapon and the other was Ching Li's performance in the finale when she took a double-handed grip on the sword and went to town you just knew it was about to get bloody!

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the small roles of some prominent stars of the time, I am going to conclude that this is one of the many films that sat a while on a shelf a minute before being released, which in and of itself is not at all a rare practice. Nevertheless, THE SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970) is an entertaining film, flaws and all so I am going to recommend it for general viewers but not necessarily a must have for collectors. The plot twists and red herrings will make you want to watch it a couple of times to figure out what you (or they) missed. Have fun with it! See you next time!

If you liked this review please comment on the blog, become a follower of the blog, join me on my Facebook account by sending me a message first and then a friend request so I know who I am friending (  https://www.facebook.com/Michael529P   ) and like my Facebook page: SHAW Brothers Kung Fu Movies 1965-1986. I thank you and would appreciate it very much!

NEXT UP: THE IRON BUDDHA (1970)

TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969)

TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969)

Our next movie for 1969 is an adaptation of the novel TWELVE DEADLY COINS written by Chang Meng-Huan. I have no access to this novel at all so there will be no comparison data. Runme Shaw is the producer, Hsu Tseng-Hung is the script writer and director. The action team of Tong Gai and Liu Chia-Liang are back after a spell to action direct this wuxia tale of brotherhood and chivalry also titled TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969). Let's get busy! 

Yuan Cheng Lieh has practiced and planned for twenty years for his revenge. His "iron thorn technique" is finally ready to challenge the mighty Yu Jian Ping and his famous "Twelve Deadly Coins". The hurt and pain of rejection and the physical injury to his left eye will finally be avenged. But first, Yu Jian Ping must be made to suffer a humiliation that will have him begging for death. Yuan Cheng Lieh has sworn however, that he will not let Yu Jian Ping die so easily.

Qiao Mao was born poor and raised by his father until Master Yu Jian Ping of the highly respected Yu Security and Escort Bureau took him in and taught him martial arts and treated him almost like a son. In fact, Master Yu taught Qiao Mao so unselfishly that Qiao Mao's martial skills were second only to Master Yu's himself. Never the less, not only did Qiao Mao never forget his humble beginnings he also never dared think of himself as the equal of any of Master Yu's many pupils and certainly not the master's own son Yu Hua. He has allowed his humble birth to burden him like a stone he is obligated to carry on his shoulders until his death. 

Yu Jian Ping's Security Escort Bureau has been hired to escort the Jiang Ning County Soldier's Fund of 200,000 taels. Master Yu has assigned this to his son Yu Hua thinking this would be an excellent opportunity for his son to get some experience. Qiao Mao, however disagrees citing the exceedly large amount of funds involved. Both Master Yu and Yu Hua think that the bureau's reputation should be deterrent enough to make even this amount of money a milk run. But Qiao Mao does not agree and after failing to convince Master Yu to send him along he trails the escort wagons on his own and notices them being shadowed by some men dressed in black on horseback. 

Qiao Mao rides up to Yu Hua and warns him of the apparent dangers but Yu Hua is having none of it. Yu Hua agrues with Qiao Mao and refuses to alter his planned route. As you can imagine, things do not go well for the convoy and that is just the beginning... 

TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969) stars Lo Lieh and Ching Li in one of those wuxia tales where the young hero is so embedded in honor and integrity that he is almost totally "bitchafied" and the young heroine is so stepped and surrounded by an evil and vile environment that she falls in love with this bit-- ah, I mean, hero at first sight. Lo Lieh plays Qiao Mao the perfect student of Master Yu Jian Ping played masterfully by the great Tien Feng. Ching Li meanwhile plays the ungrateful and treacherous student to the dastardly Master Yuan Cheng Lieh who is the villain of our piece also masterfully played by the great Fang Mian [These fine gentlemen would also play opposing masters in the cult classic FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH (1972)].

HONORABLE MENTION: Ho Ming-Chung plays Master Yu's son Yu Hua and acted in one more movie in 1970 and was never heard from again according to HKMDB (HONG KONG MOVIE DATABASE). Liu Chia-Liang plays Meng Gang, Chiu Hung plays Shen Ming Yi, Tong Gai plays Long Arm Bear, and the late Wu Ma plays Red Hair Bear.

FIGHT TIME: The action-directing team of Liu Chia-Liang and Tong Gai are back for TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969) but there is not a lot to direct here. There are only two (2) full out fight scenes in the movie, the robbery of the convoy and the multi-fight finale. In spite of this they give their usual high standard of action although I couldn't help noticing that there was a lot of light skill on display in this movie. I must say I wish there was more fighting but that is my only complaint about the fighting. 

It took me three times around watching TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969) before I recognized the themes from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet embedded in the plot. This is always going to work in a love story if done properly so when I do my pros and cons columns, I get pros: Liu Chia-Liang action, wuxia storyline, end of movie twists, Ching Li, Ching Li and Ching Li. The cons: I wish there was more fighting, and the hero is too soft for my personal taste. So over-all I will give TWELVE DEADLY COINS (1969) a positive recommendation and encourage you all to watch it if you can but to buy it only if you collect. See you next time!

If you liked this review please comment on the blog, become a follower of the blog, join me on my Facebook account by sending me a message first and then a friend request so I know who I am friending (  https://www.facebook.com/Michael529P   ) and like my Facebook page: SHAW Brothers Kung Fu Movies 1965-1986. I thank you and would appreciate it very much!

NEXT UP: DRAGON SWAMP (1969)

TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969)

TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969)

Runme Shaw produces a good straight forward wuxia yarn with TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969), our first film of 1969. There are no problems whatsoever with director Doe Ching's  work and as a matter of fact his direction is very much above par. However, there is a flaw in the script from writer Chiu Kang-Chien. Lets take a look.

Our story begins with Chang Qi Liang also known as the TWIN SWORDS OF DOOM and Hero Lu Chun Yee also known as the Jade Unicorn on a field amongst a mountain range for a duel. The are both reading letters presumably written by each of them for the other and afterwards gentlemanly and honorably begin the duel. Chang Qi Liang defeats Hero Lu with his unique weapon but is immediately overcome with grief over his win and retires from the Jiang Hu and refuses to kill for three years. 

SPOILER ALERT: Now, if you have read my previous 30 reviews you know I like to write spoiler-free reviews, if I can do such a thing for such old movies but in this case there are two things that are NEVER revealed in this movie and I would rather mention them, than not, so it does not diminish one's enjoyment of this movie. One is: what was in the letter the heroes wrote to each other and the other is why Chang Qi Liang is devastated over his killing of Hero Lu. The additional factor of not speaking Mandarin Chinese means that something more could have been revealed that was not translated in the subtitles but there's nothing we can do about that as the movie is rare enough as it is, only available in VCD, if you can find it at all. So with a movie released in 1969 we just have to live with the fault in the movie and carry on. It happens sometimes. Aside from these two things the movie is very straight forward and I liked it very much as you will see. 

It is three years later and Chang Qi Liang is struggling and living with his parents taking on odd jobs to help make ends meet. It just so happens that the house where he and his parents live is part of the territory of The Ghost Gang. The Ghost Gang is a huge underworld criminal organization engaged in all kinds of criminal activity. The leader is called the Ghost King, and his lieutenants are known as The Five Great Killers, namely: Red Killer, Yellow Killer, Green Killer, White Killer and Black Killer. The Ghost Gang employs scores of down and out citizens across China in their operations and supply weapons and masks to their henchmen.

Qi Liang's latest odd job is as a paladin carrier. Unfortunately for Qi Liang, the passenger happens to be  the provincial governor of Han Dan whom the Ghost Gang has decided to rob and assassinate this rainy night. Unfortunately for the Ghost Gang, when they decide to kill all possible witnesses Qi Liang goes on automatic kill mode and wipes out the entire kill crew. Unfortunately for Qi Liang (okay, last one, I promise) the Yellow Killer is the cleaner for this job and sees his kill crew accomplish the job but get wiped out and so he tracks Qi Liang to his parent's house and kills both of his parents. 

The Yellow Killer's next move is an elaborate ambush on Qi Liang while Qi Liang is looking for his parent's killers and the Ghost King. The battle between them leaves Qi Liang wounded as well as poisoned. His weakened body is found by a troupe of martial arts performers and the girl who finds his body, Lu Yin-er, takes an immediate interest in him. Yin-er and her father treat Qi Liang for the poisoned wound and when he recovers they give him a ride to Qi Dou Town (He is still looking for the leader of the Ghost Gang) while they go on to Lu He Village to perform. 

Qi Liang runs into three Ghost Gang henchmen at a Qi Dou Town Inn he stops to rest and learns (after "smacking them around") that the Ghost King is headed to Lu He Village! Qi Liang races to Lu He Village but is too late to catch the Ghost King ram sacking the whole village. Lu Yin-er and the sole survivors of the martial troupe (her sister and father) tell Qi Liang of the plan they learn of the Ghost Gang's robbery intentions at Qi Dou Town (!) They decide to go together to Qi Dou Town and put an end to the Ghost Gang terror for once and for all. (Woooo ! What a story!!)

TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969) stars Ling Yun as the troubled and vengeful son Chang Qi Liang, he is a handsome actor and goes on to do many a great wuxia movies for Shaw Brothers. Ching Li plays Lu Yin-er, with her cute self and is so girly and adorable you can barely resist her. Her real life father, Cheng Miu, plays her father in this movie, if you noticed the resemblance and she becomes a major beauty in the Shaw Brothers stable of beautiful women. Chen Hung-Lieh plays Ma Lok and Yau Ching plays the mayor of Qi Dou Town's wife and their parts are probably better appreciated if you can speak Mandarin.

HONORABLE MENTION: Lam Kau as the Ghost King, Chieh Yuen as Yellow Killer, Cheng Lui as White Killer and Lau Gong as Black Killer

FIGHT TIME: TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969) has no action director in spite having seven (7) full fight scenes by my count for an action packed movie with some pleasant subplots that might even cause you a laugh or two. Everyone performed well so we have no "HONORABLE MENTION" for this review. 

I would not at all be surprised if TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (1969) was somehow an adaptation of some form of Chinese literature. The story seems very involved and cut short in some places giving an overall feeling of being scaled down. In spite of this, the movie as a whole still thoroughly entertains, even without a fight choreographer and I absolutely recommend it for all viewers and collectors alike! See you next time. 

If you liked this review please comment on the blog, become a follower of the blog, join me on my Facebook account by sending me a message first and then a friend request so I know who I am friending (  https://www.facebook.com/Michael529P  ) and like my Facebook page: SHAW Brothers Kung Fu Movies 1965-1986. I thank you and would appreciate it very much!

NEXT UP: KILLERS FIVE (1969)