REVIEW #8: THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967)

REVIEW #8:

 THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967)

Released on April 24^th, 1967, THE SWORD AND THE LUTE is part three of a trilogy that began with [TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965) part one] and [TWIN SWORDS (1965) part two]. It continues the adaptation of Jiang Hu Qi Xia Chuan (Shang Xia), a wuxia novel written by Ping Jiang Bu Xiao Sheng. Produced by Sir Run Run Shaw, once again directed by Hsu Tseng-Hung and also once again screenplay and assisted directed by Shen Chiang. Song lyrics by Chang Cheh. There are no fight choreographers credited but Shaw Brothers spared no expense with this all-star cast extravaganza. Let’s get busy!

The Yin Yang Swordsmen

Chin Ping as "Gan Lianzhu"

Jimmy Wang Yu as "Gui Wu"

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967) features three treasured weapons. Treasured weapons in wuxia tales are weapons made of the finest materials and include a mystical quality that can be viewed as sort of a super power. In this movie the treasured weapons are: The Invincible Sword (aka the fish intestine sword) which cuts all kinds of iron, The Phoenix Lute, a weapon of mass destruction that hurls scores of hair thin poisonous needles. The Phoenix Lute can only be destroyed by The Invincible Sword. Finally, there is The Seven Stars Stone, the Shen family heirloom that is the only way to heal someone injured by The Phoenix Lute. 

THE INVINCIBLE SWORD

THE PHOENIX LUTE

THE SEVEN STARS STONE

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967) takes place some time after the conclusion of THE TWIN SWORDS (1965), which featured the Gan family’s raid on The Temple of the Red Lotus to rescue their third generation’s daughter, Gan Lianzhu from the clutches of the Red Lotus Clan. The movie begins with the Yin Yang Swordsmen (Gui Wu and his wife, Gan Lianzhu) leaving the Scarlet Maiden’s residence with two instructions: number 1. do not use the Phoenix Lute and number 2. destroy the Phoenix Lute with the Invincible Sword.

THE FLYING TIGER CLAN

On their way to the Gan Residence to use the Invincible Sword to destroy the Phoenix Lute, Gui Wu suggests they cut through the woods, doing so they run right into an ambush by the Flying Tiger Clan intent on robbing whomever would pass that area of the woods. The Yin Yang Swordsmen are highly skilled but the Flying Tiger Clan is present in great numbers. Seeing the men surround his wife, in spite the Scarlet Maiden's warning not to;  Gui Wu grabs the Phoenix Lute and fires into their attackers injuring many of them and causing them to retreat. 

Gan Lianzhu scolds Gui Wu

Master Wen spying on the Yin Yang Swordsmen

One of the Flying Tiger Clan’s members is unhurt but intrigued by such an astonishing weapon and he sneakily follows the Yin Yang Swordsmen as they leave the scene of the ambush and rest near a small waterfall. He overhears some valuable information and then realizes they have left a valuable prize unguarded! Let the games begin!

Yueh Hua as Shem Shuwen

"Where is the Seven Stars Stone?"

CAST REPORT:

the good: Chin Ping as Gan Lingzhu, Ivy Ling Po as the Scarlet Maid, Petrina Fung Bo Bo as Miss Sun / Gan Xiaoling, Jimmy Wang Yu as Gui Wu, Yueh Hua as Shen Shuwen, Lo Lieh as Du Ying, Pang Pang as Daxin.

the bad: Lily Ho Li Li as Wei Mei Er, Cheng Miu as Flying Tiger Chief Master Wei Fei Hu, Lee Wan Chung as Master Wen.

HONORABLE MENTION: Wu Ma, Lee Ho, Chang Pei-Shan, Tang Chia,  Liu Chia Liang, Liu Chia Yung as members of the Flying Tiger Clan.

SPOTTED: Cheng Kang-Yeh as a Shen family servant

Cheng Kang-Yeh is spotted!

FIGHT TIME: Despite Liu Chia Liang and Tang Chia both being present in this production, THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967) does not have any fight choreographers credited. Never the less I counted seven (7) fight scenes in the movie’s eighty-seven minutes making for a fun filled, action packed, wuxia extravaganza! For its time, the fight scenes are top notch and natural, making them easy to enjoy. I would certainly not expect any less with the many, highly experienced martial art actors on this project.

HONORABLE MENTION: The grand melee fight at the Master Shen's Aunt's Mansion is a tremendous scene of organized chaos, delightful! Also, Lily Ho Li-Li was a fantastic addition to the cast and her fighting ability lives up to the expectations for her character, bravo!

RECOMMENDATION: THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967) is an all-star cast, continuation of a great adaptation of a well-love Chinese novel. Not only is it presented here in great form but it is worthy, not only of a remake but adding additional chapters as well. Anyone of the major characters could also be spun-off into their own adventures. I highly recommend this movie for all viewers and collectors of wuxia movies at all costs. See you next time.

  

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NEXT UP: THE THUNDERING SWORD (1967)

REVIEW #002: THE TWIN SWORDS (1965)

REVIEW #002: THE TWIN SWORDS (1965)

Released December 22^nd, 1965,  THE TWIN SWORDS (1965) was the sequel and continuation of the story started in TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965) an adaptation of the novel, Jiang Hu Qi Xia Chuan (Shang Xia) written by Ping Jiang Bu Xiao Sheng. San Kong repeated his duties as the scriptwriter and Hsu Tseng-Hung returns as director but the elder Shaw brother, Runme Shaw is the producer this time out. Also once again there is no action director or choreographer credited. So, let’s get busy!

We last left our newly wed couple after they were aided in their escape by The Scarlet Maiden from The White Dove Convent (where the evil Red Lotus Clan had their kidnapping and forced prostitution base of operations). The Scarlet Maiden instructed them to “mind their own business” and return to the Gan Family Fortress, practice their kung fu and for Gui Xiao Wu to focus on avenging his parents. Lian Zhu and Xiao Wu headed back to the fortress and had only traveled a short way when they witnessed an apparent kidnapping of four women. It looked very much like the work of The Red Lotus Clan. 

Lian Zhu immediately lunges forward to save the women but Xiao Wu pulls her back. Not only does he want to heed the words of the Scarlet Maiden but he still feels remorse because all that has befallen them has been because of his poor judgment, if only he had minded his own business then they would have never left the Gan Fortress. [See TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS(1965) for details] But what husband can resists his wife’s pleadings? Lian Zhu convinces him that rescuing people is not minding someone else’s business and she knows they must be heading to the Red Lotus Temple. So “just this once” they go off to rescue the women. 

But, wouldn’t you know it? It’s a trap and Lian Zhu is captured! Xiao Wu has no choice but to return to the Gan Fortress and face the family that now views him as a traitor and beg them to help him rescue the daughter he caused to be endangered. And as if that weren’t enough, The Red Lotus Temple monks will be prepared for their attack, the danger and risk is obvious yet, how can they not go? Prepared to be rocked by a 1965 state of the art blockbuster!

CAST REPORT

the good: Jimmy Wang Yu as Gui Xiao Wu. Chin Ping as Gan Lian Zhu. Lo Lieh as Du Chuang. Ivy Ling Po as Gui Qiu, The Scarlett Maiden. Petrina Fung Bo Bo as Gan Xiao Ling. Li Ming as Grand Madame Gan. Tien Feng as Master Dragon Gan. 

the bad: Wong Ching-Ho as Red Lotus Chief Fa Ben. Fung Ngai as Red Lotus Chief Hua Fu. Lee Wan-Chung as Red Lotus Chief elder. Special Guest Star: Cheng Miu as Red Lotus Chief Grand Master Chung Yen.

HONORABLE MENTION: Ku Feng, Kao Pao-Shu, Wu Ma, and Lin Jing veteran performers of the Hong Kong movie industry with over one hundred films each!

SPOTTED: Bruce Lee’s childhood friend “Little Unicorn” as a Red Lotus monk. 

FIGHT TIME: Just as in Temple of The Red Lotus, THE TWIN SWORDS has no fight choreographer credited. I counted eight fight scenes once you allow for the first four and a half minutes of THE TWIN SWORDS, which is actually the last four and a half minutes of Temple of The Red Lotus. This is nearly twice the amount of action as the previous movie! The quality of the fight scenes are upheld in the sequel with the techniques displayed being realistic and to the point with no flailing about of the arms and weapons to simulate action. (The sole departing from realistic martial arts comes when the two grand masters go at it head to head in the finale. My instinct tells me to not make too much of this because the creators are in totally uncharted territory here and still managed to express their ideas.  So I decided to give it a pass. )

Chin Ping as Gan Lian Zhu "Warrior Princess"

HONORABLE MENTION: Chin Ping has a solo performance against the entire Red Lotus gang and puts her heart and soul into it! Unlike the first movie, I could not spot a single substitution of a stunt double during this entire fight and I even caught a moment when her sword bent from her putting all her strength into her techniques! Bravo! 

Bent sword at 16:54  but quickly edited out, great performance!

RECOMMENDATION: THE TWIN SWORDS (1965) is only the second movie in our journey of the early Shaw Brothers wuxia classics and the standard is already very high. This two-part adaptation of Jiang Hu Qi Xia Chuan (Shang Xia) [TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS being the first part] is fantastic and I can easily recommend this classic for collectors and casual viewers of martial art movies alike. The story and the action both hold up even fifty years later, see you next time!

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NEXT UP: COME DRINK WITH ME (1966)

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967)

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967) 

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE is the next and last movie of our trilogy and takes place some time after the conclusion of THE TWIN SWORDS and the Gan family's raid on THE TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS to rescue the third generation's daughter, Gan Lianzhu from the clutches of the Red Lotus Clan.

In the previous movie (THE TWIN SWORDS) we were introduced to three sacred items but only shown two of them. The first sacred item is The Fish Intestine Sword. It is the Gan's family heirloom and cuts all kinds of iron. This item was handed down to Gan Xiaoling, a forth generation daughter and is in her possession. (In THE SWORD AND THE LUTE it is called The Invincible Sword). The second sacred item is the Phoenix Lute. The Phoenix Lute is a weapon of mass destruction that can hurl forward scores of hair thin poisonous needles. This attack is impossible to guard against within 500 steps. The Phoenix Lute is not made of wood or stone and only the Fish Intestine Sword can destroy it. The Phoenix Lute was acquired by The Red Lady (In THE SWORD AND THE LUTE she is called The Scarlet Maid) with great effort and is in her possession. The third and final sacred item is the Seven Stars Stone of the Sun family in Baifu (In THE SWORD AND THE LUTE it is called the Shen family's heirloom). We never see the stone but are told only it can heal people injured by the Phoenix Lute by drawing the needles out of the injured party. These sacred items play heavily in our final story.  

In THE TWIN SWORDS Gan Lianzhu is being held captive in THE TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS so the Gan family go to rescue her. The losses of the Gan family during their battle with the Red Lotus Clan and the successful rescuing of Lianzhu from the Red Lotus Temple causes the family great sorrow and they decide to retire from jiang hu and live in seclusion in an undisclosed location. Gui Wu (Gan Lianzhu's husband) and Gan Lianzhu have gone to Scarlet Maid's Magic Mountain retreat (where fairies live) to improve their martial arts with the Scarlet Maid and have become known as the Yin Yang Swordmen. All of the above takes place off-screen after the end of THE TWIN SWORDS but is given to us in pieces during THE SWORD AND THE LUTE.

LIU CHIA-LIANG behind seated lady.

The movie begins with the Yin Yang Swordmen leaving Scarlet Maid's place with the Phoenix Lute and instructions from the Scarlet Maid to not only not use the Phoenix Lute but to destroy it with the Gan's family heirloom: The Invincible Sword. On their way Gui Wu suggest they cut through the woods, but once there, they are ambushed by the Flying Tiger Clan intent on robbing them. The Flying Tiger Clan proves to be quite large in number and after Gui Wu sees a large number of them surrounding his wife, decides he has had enough and retrieves the Phoenix Lute from Gan Lianzhu's horse and fires it on the robbers. A great number of them are indeed hit and all that can appear to run off. The squad leader of the bandits however is the clan's "thinker" (Master Wen). He is uninjured and intrigued by the weapon so he sneakily follows Wu'er and Lianzhu as they leave the woods with Lianzhu quite upset with Wu'er. As they stop at a small natural water fall, she scolds him for disobeying his aunt, the Scarlet Maid. Master Wen is extremely fortunate to be able to eavesdrop on the couple and through their argument learns of the Shen family's Seven Stars Stone. He decides he has learned some valuable information worthy of his chief's attention. As he turns to leave he realizes the arguing young couple are not paying any attention to their horses or the Phoenix Lute...

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE has a excellent cast, first we have returning characters Jimmy Wang Yu as Gui Wu, Chin Ping as Gan Lingzhu, Petrina Fung Bo-Bo as Gan Xiaoling and Ivy Ling Po as the Scarlet Maid. Then we have some cast members returning but with a twist, such as Lo Lieh as his former character's little brother Du Ying, Ku Feng in pretty much a cameo role as Master Song, Lee Wan Chung is back as a villian but this time the Flying Tiger Clan's Master Wen, Cheng Miu is also back as the clan chief but this time as Master Flying Tiger. Wu Ma is the chief's son Bao Erh). Joining the cast are Yuen Hua as Master Shen Shu-Wen responsible for the Shen family's Seven Stars Stone. Peng Peng from the famous multi-part JOURNEY TO THE WEST movies is a special guest star as Xiaoling's guardian Da Shin. For the villains, Lily Ho joins the cast as the fierce Wei Mei-Er, the Flying Tiger's daughter and Clan's lady fighter who takes a back seat to no one! The great Liu Chia-Liang is one of the Flying Tigers upper level henchmen and the legendary Sam Seed himself,Yuen Siu-tien plays the only Red Lotus Clan fake monk left in the movie series.

And now for my favorite part of the kung fu movie, the kung fu! I count 7 fight scenes in THE SWORD AND THE LUTE which means there is sufficient kung fu in the movie to keep you from getting bored --unless the fight scenes suck, which here, they don't but...

I remember being a lot happier with the quality of the fight scenes in the first two movies. The fight scenes in THE SWORD AND THE LUTE lack the edge of the first two movies. Something is missing or something seems just a little off when they throw down and I don't buy it one hundred percent but it is still a sale. This is a wuxia series so there is no need to criticize mystical weapons, items or chi kung in combat application. That's what these movies do. If this is not your thing, then please, there are plenty of dramas out there to satisfy you.

THE SWORD AND THE LUTE (1967) is not the best over-all movie of the three [TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965) and THE TWIN SWORDS (1965) being the other two] but is the best of the three as a stand alone movie. I feel THE TWIN SWORDS is the best over-all movie of the three based on its focus and the quality of its fight scenes. I did like THE SWORD AND THE LUTE, and would very much recommend it to everyone on the strength of its plot and subplots. I would also like to advocate it to be remade but as a prequel to Lady Sun's Justice but that is a debate for another time.

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NEXT UP: COME DRINK WITH ME (1966)

TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965) #001

TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965)

 The first movie I will review is actually part of a trilogy based on a wuxia story written by Ping Jiang Bu Xiao Sheng: TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965). It is important to note that TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965) and TWIN SWORDS (1965) are both but one story while THE SWORD AND THE LUTE is a very close follow up story. This is why I will review the three of them as my first three reviews. This makes the most sense to me rather than pretending they are 3 separate stories and reviewing them in the order of their actual release.

TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS is a pretty straight forward story of a young man, Gui Wu (played by Wang Yu) seeking revenge for his parents betrayal and murder and needing to 1) find a surviving Aunt and 2) improve his kung fu so he can get said revenge. To this end he is making his way to his father's old friend's castle where he is also promised to be married to this same friend's daughter with whom he grew up with. On his way to the castle he comes across a fierce battle where some black garbed fighters (with their faces covered as well in black) are in the process of taking a large shipment on horseback from some armed escorts. He decides to help the escorts but is wounded and knocked unconscious by the men in black. When he comes to he sees his wound was treated by a lady dressed in red and relates his story to her but also tells her he does not know his way to the castle. She tells him she knows the way and will take him.The rest of the movie is pretty much a lesson in judging by appearances and the importance of family and tradition.

There are a lot of familiar faces in Temple of The Red Lotus but make no mistake about it Wang Yu is the star as evidenced by the amount of screen time and the comparative finesse of his techniques. However he is joined by some heavy hitters including Lo Lieh (what a thrill to see him and Wang Yu together in one film!), Tien Feng and Fung Ngai (who become major players in Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection,), Wu Ma and Ku Feng. The women are well represented by Ivy Ling Po as the "Red Lady" Chin Ping as the fiance, Gan Lianzhu, and Fung Bo Bo as the youngest family member Gan Xiaoling. A great many of the ladies featured are acting as martial artists proving once again the East is well ahead of the West in portraying women in roles equal that of men. I am looking forward to seeing these women actors again and how they progress as I go through the years with Shaw Brothers.

Now, let's talk about the kung fu, because, let's face it, it is why we watch these movies and got hooked on Shaw Brothers in the first place. I remember in the 1980's when wushu in America fist became a big thing and there was a lot of discussion on what was the difference between "kung fu" and "wushu" fighting. Well as I am currently watch "The Journey of Flower" on Chinese television the answer would be to watch any pair of fights one from "Journey..." and one from "Temple..." and it would be obvious as to what the difference was, although to express it in words still might prove challenging. The words that came to mind as I watch the fights in TOTRL were "raw" and "realistic". The techniques displayed in TOTRL were "to the point" and very practical. I really appreciated that even though I also like the fancy stuff. There is very little flailing and waving arms and weapons about pointlessly. The martial arts here are definitely worth looking at and every so once in a while someone throws in a nice stance. As far as the amount of action I count five battles total including the epic finale. In my book I am going to say that it is a fair amount of action and will use five battles as the standard by which to judge in future movies. 

My biggest fear when I decided to watch all of the Shaw Brothers martial arts movies from the beginning was that I would find the vast majority of them very dated and boring. Admittedly it is still very early in the process but I very much enjoyed watching TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965). It brought back a lot of fun memories of going to the movies with my brothers and sisters on Sumner Avenue in Brooklyn back in the day. Even though it was a movie it had the feel of the old serial black and white television shows with their dramatic acting and cliffhanger endings. 

TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965) is the first wuxia movie in color and ushers in both the kung fu age of Hong Kong Movies and (for me at least) the Golden Age of Shaw Brothers. Therefore there are a lot of historical reasons to see this movie. Yet, as far as I am concerned the only reason to ever see a kung fu movie (or any movie for that matter) is because it  is a good movie. TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS absolutely qualifies as a good movie. I strongly recommend you see it when you have the opportunity. 

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 TWIN SWORDS (1965)