Starring the stunning, teenage heartthrob Pat Ting Hung, The Butterfly Chalice marks the important directing debut of the kung-fu film genre's most principle figure Chang Cheh, as he burst the martial arts and swordplay movie doors wide open, announcing the beginning of the end for the Cantonese musicals.
Here he directs a top-notch cast in this tale about a master of disguise, Ko Liang (Chiang, Have Sword, Will Travel, New One Armed Swordsman) who uses the tricks of his trade to come to the aid of two young army corps (Lee and Wang) who have been framed for murder by their despotic, mad-cap captain (Chen). The real fun in this film is in watching the dashing Chiang having a ball with his role multiple rolls and charming his way in and out of a number of tricky situations... what a charmer!
When reputable fight choreographer Liu Chia-liang debuted as a director with THE SPIRITUAL BOXER, it not only established him as a superb director, but it also encouraged other martial arts instructors to turn to directing. Plus, it was the first film to introduce comedy into kung-fu so it made sense for Liu to return to that foundation with the same bumbling idiot Wang Yu still not quite getting it when it comes to the affair of ghost control in THE SHADOW BOXING. Liu also brings in both of his brothers Liu Chia-yung and Gordon Liu Chia-hui, which guaranteed that the fights would be an extra notch above magnificent further ensuring that the audience had never seen anything like it before. THE SHADOW BOXING was twice as successful as THE SPIRITUAL BOXER.
Smash-hit sequel to COME DRINK WITH ME combines the talents of Chang Cheh, Lau Kar Leung and stars Cheng Pei Pei, Lo Lieh & Jimmy Wang Yu for an action-packed kung-fu romance.
When Ti Lung left Shaw Brothers, he dropped his stereotyped "lone swordsman" persona from the past six years and has since ventured into films with social themes. In his directorial debut, Young Lovers On Flying Wheels, Ti Lung replaces the "sword" with a motorcycle and then chooses the girl and happiness instead of dueling and a lonesome existence.
Cheng Kang had just made the internationally popular cult classic, FLYING GUILLOTION 2, when he plunged into this social drama of police corruption. Liu Yung, co-star of every finished Bruce Lee film, plays a young man at the wrong place at the wrong time. Simply because he displeased a police inspector, he’s thrown into jail, where the warden is almost more dangerous than the inmates. But even when he’s released, the police persecute him until he has no choice but to become a real criminal. Only a kind and beautiful probation officer, played by Fanny, is on his side, but she's not enough. Watch for such action favorites as Ai Fei (The Kung-fu Instructor) and Chen Kuan-tai (Man Of Iron) in this hard-hitting drama, based on an actual investigation that linked second offenses to both the cops and crooks.
Ti Lung is the title character, who lives on the Snake Mountain of Kwangsi with his brothers the Black Snake and the Yellow Snake, have been trying to turn into humans for a thousand years. Attracted by the sensual rain dance performed by three glorious tribeswomen of the nearby Miao Village, they set into motion a tale of romance, greed, insanity, envy, lust, murder, and tragedy.
Huang Fei-hung is the greatest character in martial arts movie history, with more than a hundred films featuring the Confucian healer and kung-fu master. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Gordon Liu, and many others have played him in many a gloriously filmed epic. But versatile director Ho Meng-hua and the Shaw Studio wondered what it would be like to cast one of their finest actors in the challenging role, then film it hyper-realistically. The result is this unique experimental take on the character and his stories, as the multiple award-winning Ku Feng plays an all-too-human Huang Fei-hung in a battle against a corrupt gangster's plan to frame him for robbery and murder. Despite the unusual approach, there's plenty of action as Huang and his students, including the beauteous Chen Ping, fight for honor, harmony, and health.
Based on a novel by the great Eileen Chang and directed by the equally acclaimed Ann Hui, this sad but beautiful romance story sets during the World War II, where dreams of riches and love are shattered by reality.
In this pun-intended title of Rolls, Rolls, I Love You, a hardworking young man Ah Tan (Robert Mak Tak-lo), is minding his own business while cycling down a busy Hong Kong intersection when he gets into a heated argument with a man cruising along in a sleek Rolls Royce. When the argument gets out of hand, a furious Ah Tan attempts to sabotage the offender's luxurious ride, but is instead thrust into the middle of a high stakes wager! The wealthy businessman Tsui Tung-cheng (Chen Kuan-tai), lays out simple conditions: if Ah Tan and his buddies can successfully steal his Rolls Royce, they can keep it. If they fail, they will have to pay Mr. Tsui a grand total of fifty thousand dollars! Will the underdogs win the bet?
No list compiled of all the screen's comic geniuses would be complete without Michael Hui. He created a hilarious and lovable comic persona that was both uniquely Asian and universally beloved. The Warlord, his first film, not only showcased his incomparable sense of humour but also a revolutionized Hong Kong comedy. Evoking Chaplin, he plays a warlord in early 20th century China, but makes the role his own with comedy. Some of the sexiest ladies on the Shaw Brothers lot add on to the ingenuity of the movie.
Cheng Kang both wrote and directed this exciting, historical, martial arts drama. Yueh Wah, a co-star in Trilogy Of Swordsmanship here plays the Sung Dynasty army's Chief Instructor, on a danger-fraught pilgrimage to the Tung Yueh Temple. From his first step, there are deceits, double crosses, and dirty tricks as a corrupt minister plots to ruin him and kidnap his wife. Only a lovable, capable monk played by the noted character actor Fan Mei-sheng can help him take vengeance in this exciting, satisfying chase thriller.
Ching Feng-sheng (Chin Feng) and Ching Feng-hsiao (Ivy Ling Po), who were constantly abused by their stepmother Hsia (Kao Pao-shu). Feng-hsiao was engaged to Li Ru-lung (Chin Han) since birth, but the greedy Hsia forced him to forfeit the marriage. When Ru-lung refused, Hsia framed him for thievery and put him behind bars. To rescue her lover, Feng-hsiao dressed as a young man and went to the capital with her maid Chun Lan (Li Ching). She then used Ru-lung’s name to enter the national exam and was ranked first place. Impressed by Feng-hsiao, the Emperor (Ching Miao) decided to let her wed the Princess (Fang Ying), with the Minister (Chiang Kwong-chao) as the matchmaker. On the wedding night, Feng-hsiao revealed the truth to the Princess, and persuaded her to follow the perfect plan…
Ivy Ling Po , Fang Yin , Chin Feng , Chin Han , Li Ching
While director Chu Yuan is known for his high-flying tales of the "Martial Arts World," inspired by the great novelist Ku Lung, he is also famous for introducing elements of murder mysteries, detective tales, and emotional melodrama into kung-fu films. This is one of those moody, character-driven thrillers, complete with the atmospheric sets and costumes audiences had come to expect. He uses two editors and three martial arts choreographers to tell the tale of two unique detectives following strange omens to prevent the death of a fiancée. The kung-fu takes on a macabre, horrific flair as kidnapping, murder, frame-ups, and even being buried alive fill this stunning story of swordsmen and women struggling to save their true loves... and their sanity.
