SIX ASSASSINS (1971)
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| 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.
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| Yun Il-Bong as Lord Zheng Guo Li Min |
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| Fang Mian as Ruan Yi-Cheng |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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NEXT UP: THE JADE FACED ASSASSIN (1971)
