Shorty Posts - The 36 Chambers of News Un-Covered: The Magic Blade (1976)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Magic Blade (1976) - Shaw Brothers

The Magic Blade (1976)

The Magic Blade is a Hong Kong swordplay film from the famed Shaw Brothers studio done in a stylized fashion that has less in common with the studio's kung fu films of the era but recalls instead the more fanciful "wuxia" swordplay adventures of the mid-1960s. Director Chu Yuan (aka Chor Yuen) takes a simple framework and, with the help of lavish sets, elegant costumes, a top-notch cast and imaginative fight choreography, creates a heroic saga in the grand style that wears its literary origins proudly.

Ti Lung, always a charismatic martial arts performer, plays Fu Hung-Hsueh, a super-swordsman who wears a long poncho and keeps his special broad sword, with a revolving handle, in a sheath underneath. He is out to kill a competing swordsman, Yen Nan-Fei (Lo Lieh), but winds up partnering with him to fend off attempts by the powerful Lord Yu to have them both killed to insure Yu's control of the martial world. Much of the conflict centers around attempts to get hold of the almost mystically powerful "Peacock Dart" weapon which is entrusted to Fu by its owner, Chiu (Ching Miao), who entrusts his daughter, Yu-cheng (Ching Li, Ching Miao's real-life daughter), to Fu as well. Along the way, teams of killers attack on a regular basis, leaving the heroes little time to do anything but fight, let alone eat or sleep. The action culminates in a massive confrontation at Yu's island stronghold, where Fu has to take on Yu's team of specially skilled assassins.

Starring: Ti Lung, Lo Lieh, and Ching Li

Produced by: Shaw Brothers