Acclaimed director Ho Meng-hua tackles fantasy in The Human Goddess, a genre bending film that features a love story between an alluring female fairy, played by the real life sexy goddess Li Ching, who seeks love in the world of mortal men and finds it in a man who takes care of an orphanage. Ho was one of the first directors to give Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung their first breaks as extras in his early martial arts films.
Martial arts beauty Chung Kui (Cheng Pei Pei) nurses her wounds in defeat from her enemy, the evil Black Demon (Wang Hsieh). One day, in walks fiery young do-gooder, Tsui Ping (Shih) who bites off more than she can chew. Chung comes to her rescue, and decides it is time to face the Black Demon and his invincible “Shadowless Claw”.
Young love seems off-limits for the compassionate, beautiful daughter of a rich man and a young, penniless musician Yuan Ping (Ling Yun). Actor Nan Kung-hsun co-wrote these three romance tragedies, which had audiences' eyes brimming with tears. Yu-ching (Lily Ho) and Yuan Ping (Ling Yun) are the star-crossed lovers, who suffer untold agony before finally managing to be reunited!
Applauded director Li Han-Hsiang was one of few directors that made soft porn acceptable by mainstream audiences; using the thematic device of "sex on a mission" cynicism, suggesting that sex was the ultimate power. In the sex comedy The Scandalous Warlord, the true power that drove the country's many warlords were the prostitutes that these men would routinely visit. Therefore, the power in this film lies in the hands of the sassy Shirley Yu and the titillating Shaw Yin-Yin.
The Yang family, men and women, had served their country (Song Dynasty) loyally for generations. During the war with Western Xia, General Yang Tsung-pao is ambushed and killed. His death leaves his only son, Yang Wen as the only male heir left to the Yang family. His widow, Mu Kuei-ying, the grand matriarch and the entire family set out to avenge his death and defend the country. Due to the interference of a corrupt official, Wang Ching, the Yangs were unable to have the emperor's consent to use the imperial army. Thus, they set off with whatever volunteer troops they could muster...
Director Yueh Fung presents this tragic love story about two star-crossed lovers; Ivy Ling Po is a housewife who is constantly abused by her husband both physically and mentally, and Chin Feng, Ling's adopted brother-in-law, is a mute. When he secretly falls in love with her, and risks everything he has to rescue her, things begin to take a downturn. Chin won the Outstanding Performance Award at the Golden Horse Awards in 1971 for this role.
Heroes Of Sung stars one of the original kung fu ladies of the silver screen, Shih Szu, who plays swordswoman Meng Hung. She must work with Fan Tien-Fu, played by Lo Lieh to find and protect the royal seals of the Sung Dynasty. Shih's magnificent performance earned her the female hero role in another hit Dracula And The 7 Golden Vampires.
Who can blame Fang Pi-yu (Jenny Hu) if she feels that life is unfair? Just as she settles down to domestic bliss with her husband Chi-wei (Chin Han) and her baby son, a man from her past (Yang Chi-ching) returns to haunt her. In an ensuing struggle to free her from his clutches, both men are fatally injured. Her bitter father-in-law kicks her out of his house sans baby son. A story that will tug at the heartstrings of even the most cynical.
There are martial arts epics and "brotherhood hero" films but then there is nothing out there that comes even close to THE WATER MARGIN. Based on the classic novel and true legend, ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS about how 108 rebels bravely fought against the Sung Dynasty, just about every big Shaw Brothers’ star around at the time, David Chiang, Ti Lung and Chen Kuan-tai to name a few, were called in to do this film to make it one of the most dynamic films in the history of cinema. The film exhausts you with its wild and wooly, yet heroically primitive battle scenes that ultimately end in sharp and visually effective images of death, defeat and heroism. It won Honorable Mention for Dramatic Feature at the 1972 Golden Horse Awards.
David Chiang, Ti Lung, Lily Ho, Chin Feng, Yueh Hua
In the vein of Romeo and Juliet Hong style, the small ensembled cast and little known director Michihko do a big league job with their rendition of Romeo and Juliet in this film. Although poor boy (Derek Erh Tung-sheng) and rich girl (Yu An-an) are from opposite ends of the spectrum, their undying love refuses to let anyone get in their way, including their parents.
Also known as Seven Soldiers Of Kung-fu and 108 Heroes, this sequel to the martial arts blockbuster The Water Margin is considered by many kung-fu cultists as even more action-packed than the original. Based on one of China’s enduring epic novels, written in the 14th century, All Men Are Brothers continues the patriotic story of righteous warriors battling despotic leaders, featuring mythic characters familiar to every Chinese, and with a cast that has achieved an equally celebrated status among Shaw Brothers devotees: Ti Lung, David Chiang, Chen Kuan-tai, and Danny Lee. A hard-edged feminine touch is provided by Lily Ho and Betty Chung Ling-ling. The behind-the-camera line-up is also of mythic proportions, with direction by Chang Cheh and no less than four martial arts choreographers, including Liu Chia-liang and brother Liu Chia-yung.
Betty Chung Ling-ling, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Chen Kuan-tai
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.
This romantic comedy set against the posh environment of an upper-class Hong Kong elite is about the love that blossoms between a bumbling young man (Leslie Chung) and an attractive woman he meets on the subway (Maggie Cheung). Both would-be lovers are pursued by others; an heiress chases after the likeable klutz, and his subway lady-love has an ex-boyfriend who wants her back again.
