RAW COURAGE (1969)

RAW COURAGE (1969)

Sir Run Run Shaw produces another pursuit / wuxia film from the fertile mind of Director / Scripter extradinaire Lo Wei this time taking place during the Ming Dynasty. The action directors are Bruce Lee's childhood friend Little Unicorn (credited as Hsiao Chi Lin) and Simon Chui Yee-Ang (credited as Hsu Erh Niu). Let's get busy!

During the Ming Dynasty [1368 - 1644 (276 years)] it was very common for Han crown princes and eunuchs to fight among themselves for power after the collapse of the Mongolian rule. Good guys, bad guys? It was all relative based on who you believed was the rightful heir to the throne. Our next story is steeped in this historical fact. 

Emperor Jianwen's palace is set upon by forces loyal to Emperor Yongle. With defeat eminent Emperor Jianwen trusts his infant son to the Chief of the Black Eagle Society,  Shangguan Hou asking him to unite with the righteous heroes of the Jiang Hu to restore his (Emperor Jianwen) reign with the infant crown prince. 

A short time later, The Black Eagle Society is paid a visit by swordsmen of the Jiang Hu loyal to Emperor Yongle including the godson of Eunuch Qiren: Yen Tsang, Chief of the East Sea Clan and Yu Hua Chiao of the "Scarf" Clan asking for the Black Eagle Society to switch loyalties to Emperor Yongle and to turn over the infant crown prince to them. In the violence that subsequently ensues,  Chief Shangguan is mortally wounded. Chief Shangguan, his daughter Hsiu Yi, and his top disciple Chin Chen Hsiung retreat to his fortress's inner sanctum and he gives his daughter the infant crown prince and a mission to rendezvous with his brother the Chief of the White Dragon Society on February 15th in his place to fulfill the wish of the dead Emperor Jianwen.  

Hsiu Yi and Chen Hsiung leave the fortress but are discovered by a few patrolling soldiers. They are helped by a elder calling himself "Old Beggar" and he assists them in going on the run from Yen Tsang and his men while journeying to rendezvous with the White Eagle Society. "Old Beggar" tasks his student Chou Fei Yun with helping them pass the many military check points all the while staying out of the grasp of Yen Tsang. Will they reach their destination in time? 

CAST REPORT

The "good": Liu Kei as Emperor Jianwen, Lo Wei as Black Eagle Society Chief Shangguan Hou, Cheng Pei Pei (looking very young) as Shangguan Hsiu Yi, daughter of Black Eagle Society Chief,  Wu Fung as the disciple of Black Eagle Society Chief, Yeung Chi-Hing as Mo Wen Tien aka "Old Beggar", Yueh Hua as Chou Fei Yun, "Old Beggar's disciple 

The "bad": Tien Feng as East Sea Clan Chief Yen Tsang, Poon Oi-Lin as Yu Hua Chiao of the "Scarf" Clan, Lee Sau-Kei as Old Monster

HONORABLE MENTION: Lee Kwan as Little Beggar, James Tien  as a border guard and Someno Yukio as one of the East Sea Clan swordsmen

FIGHT TIME: RAW COURAGE (1969) has two action choreographers: Hsiao Chi Lin aka Little Unicorn (childhood friend of Bruce Lee) and Simon Chui Yee-Ang. This is very much their early work so their is no need to judge it too harshly especially considering it is state of the art for 1969. The fight scenes are clear and with an exception or two easy to follow and makes use of under-cranking which is not over-done. There is plenty of shouting to emphasize effort in technique and I was pleased by that as well. If there was a fault it was with the sheer number of opponents faced by the heroes which got a little hard not to smile about. I counted eight (8) fight scenes which over one hour and forty-eight minutes is still plenty. Nice job.

HONORABLE MENTION: Cheng Pei Pei does an earnest job fighting here like it was for real and so while I have never seen her look so young before I have never seen her fight harder. Fantastic! 

RAW COURAGE (1969) is one of the early Shaw Brothers movies that deserve a look-see just to get a taste of what the sixties were like for the wuxia genre. A historical look a the great Cheng Pei Pei is also another reason to seek out this movie that I am certainly going to recommend but for people with a taste for the nostalgia and collectors only. See you next time!

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NEXT UP: THE SWORDMATES (1969)

DEATH VALLEY (1968)

DEATH VALLEY (1968)

Sir Run Run Shaw brings back writer/director Lo Wei fresh off his hit film BLACK BUTTERFLY (1968) and Lo Wei delivers DEATH VALLEY (1968) a twisted tale of ambition filled with interesting characters. Han Ying-Chieh spices up the drama as the action choreographer his previous work for Shaw Brothers being COME DRINK WITH ME (1966) also as action choreographer. Let's check out the plot. 

Chiu Jien Ying has lived in Chiu Mansion located in Death Valley with her uncle Master Chiu and his students. Even though she is not the best martial artist there (that honor goes to Master Chiu's body guard, Lau Yuen Hawk) she is still the most senior and so, even though she is female, she had reasoned that her uncle, as he was getting on in his years, would eventually leave all his assets to her, being the only blood relative living in the mansion.

Unfortunately Master Chiu has sent for his nephew, Chiu Yu Lung, to "take over his affairs" and has no intention of turning over anything to Chiu Jien Ying, as she is "after all a girl". Shortly after having this conversation with her uncle Jien Ying persuades her lover and classmate Lam Hung to go along with her assassination plot involving Lau Yuen Hawk, her uncle's body guard. When Lam Hung voices misgivings about trusting such a skilled martial artist with this plan she tells Lam "Let me handle him" What Jien Ying has in mind is to handle yet another man in her life, her childhood friend Jin Fu, a famous swordsman known as "The Cold-faced Master", and the owner of an equally famous sword. Handling all of these men is how Chiu Jien Ying plans to get what she wants. 

Chiu Yu Lung is headed to Chiu Mansion in Death Valley to help his Uncle settle his affairs as his uncle, Master Liu is getting on in years. On his way there Yu Lung has several chance meetings with thugs, cheats, an impressionable young man and a master swordsman named Jin Fu. In cementing his friendship with Jin Fu, Yu Lung exchanges weapons with him because, in part, of Jin Fu's gratitude for Yu Lung saving Jin Fu's life from an ambush. This sword Yu Lung receives from Jin Fu returns Yu Lung's favor by causing a case of mistaken identity that allows Yu Lung to discover Jien Ying's plot to take his life. From here it gets verrry interesting. 

Angela Yu Chien is cast as the star of our show, Chiu Jien Ying a "girl" wronged or no? You decide. Yueh Hua is Chiu Yu Lung a very, very, very lucky man. Chen Hung-Lieh is Jin Fu a "heroic" swordsman to whom killing is not a problem. Chen Hung-Lieh is perfectly cast as "The Cold-faced Master, we rarely see Chen Hung-Lieh cast as a good guy.

HONORABLE MENTION: Lee Kwan as Er Toe Chi bringing a well welcomed comic relief to DEATH VALLEY (1968). 

FIGHT TIME: Han Ying-Chieh is the action director for DEATH VALLEY (1968) I think we all remember him as the "why did you kill my teacher" guy in CHINESE CONNECTION (1972) and I sort of forgot he was also an action director. His choreography is not bad if you can understand what I mean by, wild but still detailed. There is also some under-cranking in spots but over-all he is "par for the course" in terms of 60's action scenes. I counted seven (7) fight scenes in a very interesting movie that is thoroughly enjoyable. Nothing to be disappointed about.

HONORABLE MENTION: You can spot SAMMO HUNG KAM-BO as a stuntman in the early part of the film. Yes, I included a screenshot. 

DEATH VALLEY (1968) is a very entertaining production and I don't who is responsible for the cheese cake or as it is called in anime circles fan-service but I can't say it didn't add to the main plot of the film. I mean, I don't know about murder, but I certainly would be "motivated" to cooperate with her on a "special project". So, yes I am wholly recommending DEATH VALLEY (1968) for viewing by fans 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: THE JADE RAKSHA (1968)