It all started with THE FIVE VENOMS, the internationally loved kung-fu thriller which introduced director Chang Cheh's recurring cast of martial arts masters. It continued through more than a dozen high-flying, bloody good entertainments featuring the same action actors in pairs, trios, quartets, and, most memorably, quintets. While this is considered the last official "Venoms" movie, what a film it is. The title does not lie: an evil prince has secreted stolen imperial treasures in a building that practically bristles with booby-trapped blades. Bodies are pierced, limbs are cut off, and there's one plasma-spurting attack after another as heroes and rogues alike try to solve the secrets of the hell house. The core Venoms themselves choreograph the gory fun in this fond farewell to their worldwide film series sensation.
Lu Feng, Wang Li, Lung Hien-Chiang, Chien Hsiao-Hou
A Chinese costume version of the legend of French King Louis XIV, Shin Yung-Kyoon plays the double role of twin sons of the Emperor who are separated as children. One is a brave noble warrior, the other is a debauched ruler whose suspicion is so great he orders his very own sibling's face to be hidden by an iron mask. The ever-talented Li Ching co-stars as the princess, a love interest for both brothers.
It's a no-holds-barred battle to the death for possession of the invaluable Purple Sword. Assistant director Wang Po-yi also wrote this entertaining and exciting adventure which could have also been called "The Five Tigers" since there's no doubt that this quintet is the highlight of the action. Huang Tsung-shun is "Fierce Tiger," Hung Liu is "Drunk Tiger," Hsu Erh-niu is "Lame Tiger," award-winning actor Ku Feng is "One-eyed Tiger" and respected director/actor Wu Ma is "Sick Tiger" in a tangle of tussles and thrills.
Chang I, Chen Hung-lieh, Shu Pei-pei, Essie Lin Chia
After making such successful thrillers as THE CRIMINALS 2 - HOMICIDES, such well-received action films as BIG BROTHER CHENG, and such popular comedies as MR. FUNNY - BONE, director Kuei Chih-hung put his first "hex" on the audience. This eerie, frightening, supernatural mystery thriller was so effective, it led to HEX VERSUS WITCHCRAFT and HEX AFTER HEX. But this was the original, starring the lovely Tanny Tien Ni in a challenging role of a wronged, bed-ridden wife who is at the mercy of her evil husband... and so much more. What starts as an Asian variation of the classic Fench suspense film DIABOLIQUE becomes an exercise in fervid and frightening Hong Kong horror as one ghost after another appears to wreak havoc, insanity, and death.
With the 007 craze at its height, it is little wonder that Interpol operative "009" is as adept with casinos and cars as he is with girls and guns. For "Bond" fans, this film is truly "From Hong Kong, with love...!"
Margareg Tu Chuan , Tang Ching , Shen Yi , Chang Pei-shan
Award-winning drama featuring a passionate performance by Lisa Lu, enhanced by sumptuous costumes and sets, produces a powerful, fascinating story. In five thousand years of Chinese history, there was never a more fascinating woman than the dragon lady of the Ching Dynasty, also the Empress Dowager, who was the power behind the throne for the last half of the 19th century. The vast tapestry of palace intrigues is vividly brought to the screen.
A comedy about a naïve villager who arrives in the big city to seek his fortune. "The Crazy Bumpkins" is hilarious and bittersweet, much like its simple tragic-hero who has a heart of gold but pockets of lint.
Esteemed director Ho Meng-hua attained cult status among kung-fu film fans in the West with his wild and wacky martial arts hit THE FLYING GUILLOTINE. His unique directing approach focused more on the devastating nature of the horrific weapon than the kung-fu fights. One of Shaw Brothers' biggest kung-fu stars at the time, Chen Kuan-tai plays the leader of the ‘Flying Guillotine Squad’ a group of hand picked killers, commissioned by the Ching Emperor Yung Cheng, that use a deadly, beheading weapon to carry out the emperor's assassination assignments. It's actually based on a true story. Interestingly, the weapon used in the film was a complete fabrication because in real life, no one ever survived to tell what the actual weapon really looked like.
The subtle repackage of the most filmed Ching Dynasty novel, The Dream Of The Red Chamber by renowned director Li Han-hsiang has earned public acclaim by attaining The Best Art Direction of The 15th Golden Horse Award, The Best Costume and The Best Art Direction Of The 24th Asian Film Festival. Brigitte Lin and Sylvia Chang play the adorable yet sorrowful couple Bao Yu and Dai Yu; playing their roles to the hilt in this gloomy love story of their uncontrollable destinies.
Brigitte Lin , Sylvia Chang , Deborah , Michelle Mei Suet
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Ching Dynasty, this grand Shaw Bros action thriller follows two young Shaolin rebels, engaged in a deadly mission to bring down the empire.
Lo Meng, Wang Li, Sun Chien, Chiang Sheng, Wen Hsueh-erh
This period horror movie stars 70s idol Hsing Hui and a young Yon Fan (Yon Fan, director Sense of Color, The Purple Pavilion) star in this fascinating spine chiller with one chilling reminder... never marry a possessed woman, she'll never let you go! Young business man (Yon) marries pretty, much sought-after young bride (Hsing), never knowing that she carries the spirit of a girl raped by her uncle and murdered along with her parents... Justice must be done, and it ain't pretty!
Tu Ku (Alex Man Chi-leung), having mastered the fatal skill, leads his eight section chiefs to Wu Tang to challenge Yun Fei-yang (Hsu Shao-chiang). But Yun has already gone into seclusion with his lover Lun Wan-erh (Liu Hsueh-hua). At this moment Tu receives a challenge from Chief Mochitsuki Soryu Han (Chen Kuan-tai) of the Japanese Ega clan.
Tsui Siu-keung, Liu Hsueh-hua, Chen Kuan-tai, Alex Man
Yang Chuan calls upon China’s centuries-old mythology to create this charming romantic fantasy.. A magical girl who lives in a Chinese umbrella (the glorious Cherie Chung Cho-hung) helps an honorable young man and his uncle to deal with a covetous loan shark.
Betty Ting Pei stars as a singer from Taipei who comes to Hong Kong in search of her missing sister; nearly getting raped by a street gang and rescued by a handsome composer. Among the girls she meets during her investigation are "queen of Shaw kung-fu", Lily Li, and elegant Ouyang Sha-fei. It's all handled with taste and verve by the studio's Japanese import, writer/director Inoue Umetsugu, who made viewers rediscover Hong Kong's splendors and dangers with an outsider's perspective.
Betty Ting Pei, Yang Fan, Lily Li, Ou Yen-ching, Hsia Ping
