SIX ASSASSINS (1971) #62

SIX ASSASSINS (1971)

KOREAN POSTER

SIX ASSASSINS (1971) released March 25th, was written and directed by Walter Chung Chang-Hwa produced by Shin Sang-Ok and Sir Run Run Shaw. Shot in Taiwan, it is a twist of THE MAGNIFICENT 7 with a splash of  CHUSHINGURA: THE 47 RONIN, wuxia movie! Let's get busy. 

Yun Il-Bong as Lord Zheng Guo Li Min

Chen Feng-Chen as Lord Ding Yuan

Lord Zheng Guo Li Ming is a feudal lord and land owner but most importantly he is the emperor's brother. Unfortunately Lord Li Ming is also a tyrant and his treatment of his servants have them running to the neighboring estate, the estate of Lord Zheng Shou Zhen Ding Yuan. 

Lord Li Ming refuses to accept this defiance from lowly peasants and personally travels to the Ding Yuan estate to confront one such family and robs and murders them. He then orders the boundary marker to be moved to expand his estate but Lord Ding Yuan arrives to confront him and demands he move the marker back and leave his land. This enrages the emperor's brother and he murders Lord Ding Yuan right on the spot. As Lord Ding Yuan lies dying though, he orders his men to not do anything. 

Shum Lo as Minister Cui Yin

The case lands before Minister Cui Yin by virtue of written petitions and before hearing from either estate representative in person he decides in favor of the emperor's brother Lord Li Ming. Minister Cui decides that Lord Zheng Shou Zhen Ding Yuan was in the wrong and his son will not inherit his title and will forfeit his father's estate. When Minister Ruan Yi-Cheng arrives at the capital representing the Ding Yuan estate, the edit against them has been drafted already but Minister Ruan Yi-Cheng begs Minister Cui to delay the issuing of the edit for one month so he may prepare the people of Wei City for the outcome and avoid any unrest. Under the conditions laid out by Minister Ruan Yi-Cheng, Minister Cui agrees to the one month delay BUT Minister Ruan has lied! 

Fang Mian as Ruan Yi-Cheng

Minister Ruan Yi-Cheng's real intention for the one month delay is to plan and execute the assassination of the emperor's brother hoping that with his brother dead, the emperor  would withdraw the edit and allow Lord Ding Yuan's son to keep his inheritance. To this cause, he has enlisted the help of Hero Mu Jun-Jie to help with the planning because the murder must not take place on either lord's estate for it to work. Adding further to the danger is not only Lord Li Ming's two personal body guards but his protector is none other than Captain of the Imperial Guard, Qiu Zhang-Sheng! Ladies and gentlemen -- get your popcorn ready!

CAST REPORT

the good: Ling Yun as Hero Mun Jun-Jie. James Nam Gung-Fan as Fu Cheng. Lily Li as Sun Mei-Zhen.

the bad: Yun Il-Bong as Lord Zheng Guo Li Ming. Kao Ming as Captain Qiu Zhang-Sheng. Tong Tin-Hei as Lord Li-Ming personal body guard.

HONORABLE MENTION: Introducing in his very first movie: Chan Shen as Yu Li-De, Lord Li-Ming personal body guard. Bruce Tong Yim-Chaan, Luk Chuen, Sammo Hung, Someno Yukio and Lam Ching-Ying have small roles as fighters. 

Introducing: Chan Shen 

FIGHT TIME: SIX ASSASSINS (1971) is credited by HKMD (Hong Kong Movie Database) as directed by Walter Chung Chang-Hwa with no credit given to any action director. I must say, under these circumstances, the action is top notch and state of the art for 1971.  The techniques are clear, easy to follow, realistic and entertaining. Each participant has their own flavor about their fight style and I am hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with the five (5) actions scenes I counted. This is not action-packed, but never-the-less, the movie is still well paced. There are both weapons and empty handed combat on display. Well done!

HONORABLE MENTION: James Nam Gung-Fan's fight scenes are very flashy and suitable for his character which is a parallel to Robert Vaughn's character from the Magnificent Seven.

Lily Li

RECOMMENDATION: SIX ASSASSINS (1971) is a nice eastern western romp for any slow Saturday afternoon when one has a touch of kung fu fever that needs a fix. In addition it is collectible as the character actor, Chan Shen's first movie. He is well used in almost every classic Shaw Brother's movie whether action or comedy. Well, that's my review, 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 JADE FACED ASSASSIN (1971)

VALLEY OF THE FANGS (1970) #053

VALLEY OF THE FANGS (1970)

VALLEY OF THE FANGS (1970) was released October 6th produced by both Sir Run Run Shaw and Lee Ji-Ryong. Written by Wong Po-I and directed by the very talented Walter Chung Chang-Hwa it is a mission wuxia tale with the oft used tale of the Ming Dynasty during the rule of a child emperor and a corrupt eunuch and a corrupt prime minister. A loyal subject is unjustly accused of treason and his loved ones must find a way to save them. The action choreography is handled by Liu Chia Yung the younger brother of Liu Chia Liang. Let's get busy!

Song Yuan is the senior lecturer in the Imperial Academy. He was honored by the emperor with an Iron Shield Pardon for his loyalty and contributions to the empire. The person presenting this small token can even be pardoned a death sentence. When the emperor died, his very young son became emperor and  Prime Minister Jia Shoudao took advantage of the child and oppressed the common people. Song Yuan refused to go along with the abuse of power by the prime minister and so was framed for treason, imprisoned and tortured with the prospects of being put to death. 

The Head Of Punishment, Geng Shangde visits the child emperor to ask for a pardon of Song Yuan as a favor to him (Geng Shangde) but is rebuffed. He then goes and tells Song Yuan's wife and daughter they must use the Iron Shield Pardon as it is the only way to gain Song Yuan's release. Unfortunately the child emperor's eunuch has followed The Head Of Punishment and alerts Prime Minister Jia Shoudao of the Song's plan to use The Iron Shield Pardon. Prime Minister Jia Shoudao assigns Commander Gao Sixian of the Jin Yi Wei to confiscate the Iron Shield Pardon but it must be done in secret because Song Yuan's loyalty to the previous emperor is well known and he is loved by the people. 

Song Yuan's wife and daughter disguise themselves as street entertainers and hide the Iron Shield Pardon on their person as they make their journey to the capital to save the head of their family.  The journey is dangerous enough as it is but to make it to the capitol they must pass through the dreaded Valley Of The Fangs where the emperor's new palace is under construction. Will they make it? 

CAST REPORT

the good: Li Ching as Song Jie. Lo Lieh as You Rulong. Chan Leung as Chin Shikai. Chen Yan-Yan as Song Jie's mother. Tung Li as Boss kiln worker. 

the bad: Wang Hsieh as Commander Gao Sixian. Fan Mei-Sheng as Instructor Ma. Wang Kuang-Yu as Instructor Niu.

HONORABLE MENTION: Paul Wei Pin-Ao as Hu San shows his skills as an excellent character actor.  In fact, the moment the movie gets to "THE VALLEY OF THE FANGS" with the workers in the kiln it hits a higher note of drama than the rest of the film and the actors in it rise to the occasion! Chen Sing, Luk Chuen, Someno Yukio, and Cheng Lui have small roles in this movie.  

FIGHT TIME: Liu Chia-Yung handles the fight choreography all by himself for the first time so that alone makes this a collectible film. I counted a total of nine (9) fight scenes making for an action-packed movie. The techniques were good and added to the excitement of the film. Bravo. 
HONORABLE MENTION: Liu Chia-Yung's choreography (especially with Paul Wei Pin-Ao) during the kiln sequence shows his skills as in putting the right technique with the correct character for maximum entertainment value, double bravo!!

RECOMMENDATION:

VALLEY OF THE FANGS (1970) is certainly good entertainment but it is a showcase for the action choreography talents of Liu Chia-Yung and that makes this first solo job from him a collectible and must have. Watching some of the faces on the actors here make for a good time if group watching as well. So please see this film if you have the opportunity to do so. 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 SECRET OF THE DIRK (1970)

HEADS FOR SALE (1970) #048

HEADS FOR SALE (1970)

This time Producer Runme Shaw teams up Director Walter Chung Chang-Hwa with the gifted Script writer Yip Yat-Fong for HEADS FOR SALE released May 6th, 1970. Wild and interesting, with plenty of action but no action director, I can't wait to get into this one, so --let's get busy!

Hua Chen-Fang had long turned over a new leaf. He had been a "successful" burglar to the extent that he was able to retire with his wife and daughter and live in a modest comfort. Everyone in the Jiang Hu knew of his past life but because he had never harmed anyone, everyone could tolerate his presence. However when his daughter, Hua Bi-Lian, became of the age to marry, no one would accept her hand. To Hua Pi-Lien, herself, this was not a problem until the one man she did fancy: Luo Hong-Xun, also refused to marry her. Hua Bi-Lian then set out to confront him. 

Luo Hong-Xun attempted to reason with Hua Bi-Lian but she was too enraged. So, during their fight, he pretended she struck him and she was suddenly taken aback and raced off on her horse. After a while, however, Hua Bi-Lian's parents came to the Luo's home demanding he return Hua Bi-Lian to them. She had gone missing and they thought she was with him. Hong-Xun's mother explains to Bi-Lian's mother what happened and the Hua's take off to find their daughter. Luo Hong-Xun decides to go after Hua Bi-Lian and bring her back to her family. 

After leaving Luo Hong-Xun's house, Hua Bi-Lian comes across a man attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree. She cuts him down and learns he is doing so because he was tricked into gambling and lost his wife away to the gambling hall manager, Wan San-Ju for ten taels of gold. Bi-Lian goes to the gambling house to win back the wife, she gambles and wins the wife back and (of course) is attacked by Wan San-Ju and his men after the fact. During their battle, Hong-Xun catches up to Bi-Lian and jumps in to assist her and together they chases away Wan San-Ju and the remaining attackers. 

Gambling hall manager Wan San-Ju goes to report this trouble to his boss, and he turns out to be none other than Huang Lun, an old neighborhood bully and nemesis of Luo Hong-Xun. Times has been very kind to Huang Lun, although he has a scar and the bad memories of his run in with Luo Hong-Xun to keep him company, he can hold his head up because since being forced out of their old neighborhood, prostitution and gambling has been very, very good to Huang Lun and poor Luo Hong-Xun is about to find out just how good. 

CAST REPORT

the good: Lisa Chiao Chiao as Hua Bi Lian (she has never looked so good! this was an EXCELLENT role for her!). Chan Leung as Luo Hong-Xin. Chen Miu as Hua Chen-Fang. Lai Cheuk-Cheuk as Madame Hua. Wang Hsieh as Hero Pao Tzu-An. Helen Ma Hoi-Lun as Pao Chin-Hua. 

the bad: Fan Mei-Sheng as Wan San-Chu. Kao Ming as Huang Lun. Hung Lau as Pai Hua-She.

HONORABLE MENTION: Cheng Lui, Tung Li, and Chen Sing play minor roles. 

FIGHT TIME: I counted nine (9) excellent fight scenes in HEADS FOR SALE (1970). Historically, I see "they" have achieved the lateral movement of the "light skill" in wuxia. It looks fantastic! I am very excited to see the future of this technique. Why do I say "they"? Because HEADS FOR SALE (1970) has no action director credited! This is remarkable because the action throughout the movie is so praiseworthy I can't imagine who would not want to take credit for it? I do have a suspect but I dare not say who it is --but the fights are worth the price of admission AND the story is very entertaining, no disappointments here. 

HEADS FOR SALE (1970) is a definite recommend for collectors because of the standard for the seventies wuxia fights is established here, in my opinion. Every movie produced after this one has to be at least as good as HEADS FOR SALE or I got problems with it, period. In addition, it is a fun and entertaining wuxia afternoon for all fans so buy or borrow it at all costs! 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:  VENGEANCE! (1970)