This glorious pageantry was awarded Honourable Mention for Drama at the 2nd Golden Horse Awards. Li Li-hua gives a magnificent performance as Wu Tse-tien, the most famous woman in China's more than four thousand year history. The screen fairly bursts with royalty, intrigue, tragedy, and triumph as the script charts her from her teenage years to old age.
Li Li-hua, Chao Lei, Chiao Chuang, Lo Chi, Yu Feng-chi
This is widely regarded as one of the most controversial and erotic films in Hong Kong cinema. Chu Yuan helmed this 1972 cult classic featuring Lily Ho in her most audacious role as a beautiful and mysterious courtesan caught in a web of sex and murder with her powerful and ruthless madam (Pei Ti). The film's unprecedented genre crossover of lesbian-themed period thriller with eye-popping martial arts is a real screen gem for generations of movie aficionados.
The Yang family, men and women, had served their country loyally in Song Dynasty for generations. During the war with Western Xia, General Yang Tsung Pao (Chung Hau) is ambushed and killed. The grand matriarch (Lisa Lu) and the entire family set out to avenge his death and defend the country. They set off with whatever volunteer troops they could muster...
Ivy Ling Po, Lily Ho, Yueh Hua, Li Ching, Chung Hua, Lisa Lu
Asian fans of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon recognized that its director Ang Lee was actually inspired by director Chu Yuan and novelist Ku Lung's wonderful tales of a "martial arts world" where all wushu warriors try to attain the "Deer Sword" and escape from the insidious maze-like "Toy Land." Master kung-fu choreographer Tang Chia leads the king and queen of Shaw - Ti Lung and Lily Li - to engage in a fascinating and entertaining swordplay adventure of consummate swordsmen and sorceresses.
Lo Wei's reputation was cemented by his being credited as director on both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan's first major starring roles. But before The Big Boss and New Fist Of Fury, Lo Wei was acting, writing, and directing at Shaw Studios. This, however, was his very last Shaw Brothers film - the fabulous tale of a frostbitten swordswoman out to get her parents' murderers. An audience can only marvel at Li Ching's talent as she struggles to cure her hypothermia in time for the final "snow-down."
Li Ching, Yueh Hua, Chang Chung, Tien Feng, Chiao Chiao, Ku Feng
A year before he was to direct King Boxer -- the first Hong Kong kung-fu film ever to break into the international market -- Cheng Chang-ho both wrote and directed this powerful martial arts movie. Ling Yun, of Gun Brothers and Hellgate (among many others), ably plays a magician-warrior who initially protects the villain from an ambush by the title heroes. But after his wife's and friend's deaths, he must fight to set things right.
The beautiful phantom Hsiao Chien has haunted readers since her appearance in the classic haunted story collection, Strange Stories From A Chinese Studio. Many film makers have tried to adapt the tales, but none have captured the eerie, horrific beauty as well as this expressive, vivid, ethereal and haunting production. It is given extra significance by its star, the enchanting Betty Loh Ti who committed suicide later.
Taiwanese singer Lin Chong plays a cool jewel thief who turns over a new leaf as a professional singer in Chang Cheh's first ever musical. A series of new robberies arise and has everyone wondering if the thief hasn't returned to his old ways...
Lily Ho , Jimmy Lin Chong , Lo Lieh , Essie Lin Chia
Martial arts genre auteur Chang Cheh teams up with action stars Ti Lung and David Chiang again. Ti Lung is the "armour" of an armoured carriage taking silver to the capital. Along the way a mysterious knight (David Chiang) begins to stalk him. As Ti Lung is surrounded by various bandits, Chiang has to save his new friend and risk his own life. Later, the two happen to be involved in a love triangle with Li Ching.
Li Ching, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Ching Miao, Ku Feng, Chen Hsing
In a rare reversal of typecasting, Shaw Brothers' perennial bad guy Lo Lieh breaks tradition to play the honorable and noble swordsman in The Swift Knight. Similar to Danny Kaye's The Court Jester without the jest, it's tale of brave knights, chivalry and fair maidens where the Swift Knight (Lo Lieh) finds himself involved in romance, court intrigue and deadly jousts while trying to protect a baby who is the Emperor's secret heir apparent.
Lo Lieh, Margaret Hsing Hui, Huang Tsung-hsing, Chin Han
The famed Ivy Ling Po (Temple Of The Red Lotus) stars as a mysterious swordswoman dedicated to keeping the five volume “Five Generations Fighting Methods” kung-fu manual out of evil-doers’ hands. She joins Ling Yun, star of The Iron Buddha, who plays a hero known only as the Roving Knight to fight, train, then fight again -- facing such characters as The Six-Armed Giant and The 1000-Cut in this action-packed adventure.
Based on a famous Chinese opera, this period drama stars the beloved screen pairing of the wildly popular Ivy Ling Po (Vermillion Door) and Li Ching, one of Hong Kong’s most famous on-screen couples. Ling Po was renowned for playing male Cantonese opera roles while the child star Li, plays the enchanting female lead. While visiting a temple, a young impoverished scholar, Zhang Sheng, is enchanted by the daughter of an influential family, Hong Niang. When the safety of Hong Niang is threatened by revolutionaries, Zhang does all he can to keep her from harm. Seeing the love between the young couple, Hong’s maid (Fang Ying) helps bringing the young couple together, who secretly have their rendezvous in the West Chamber, in spite of her family's objections! It is romance, tears and classic melodrama as the couple fight for love.
An aging fighter (Ti Lung) relives his violent past mistakes through a poverty-striken, streetwise kid, who severely injuries his nemesis during a battle to win a girl's heart.
Ti Lung, Cheung Hing Lung, Leung Yuen Ching, Law Yun Ping
This time around, newcomer Shih Chung-tien steps into the legendary shoes of Kwan Tak-hing to portray the famous Po Chih Lin healer. He ends up matching both his wits and fists with a number of thugs, including long-time nemesis Huang Fei-hung baddie, Shek Kien! The plot is classic Huang: jealous rival kung-fu schools try to sabotage Fei-hung’s superior Pao Chih Lin clinic until the chivalrous philanthropist shows them the error of their ways with wisdom, intelligence, and fabulous kung-fu -- supplied by both an action choreographer as well as a special Hung Style expert.
