Dubei dao (1967)

Director:

Cheh Chang

Writers:

Cheh Chang (writer)
Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

26 July 1967 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

An evil gang attacks the Chi school of Golden Sword Kung Fu. One student sacrifices his life to save his teacher and his school...

Plot Keywords:

Sword | Whip | Fishing | Dismemberment | Martial Arts

Cast

Yu Wang	...	Fang Kang
Chiao Chiao	...	Hsiao Man
Chung-Hsin Huang	...	Wei Hsuan
Yin Tze Pan	...	Chi Pei-erh
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pei-Shan Chang	...	Sun Hao
Hsiung Chao	...	Ah-Hsien
Chuan Chen	...	Chi student
Lei Cheng	...	Teng Chung
Yanyan Chen	...	Madam Chi (as Yen-yen Chen)
Lung Chiang	...	Chi student
Yuan Chieh	...	Lu Chen
Siu Loi Chow	...	Bandit Hsu
Dan Fan	...	Sun Hao's Chi sidekick
Mei Sheng Fan	...	Kuo Sheng
Li Jen Ho	...	Grandpa Wang
Lin Ye Hsiao	...	Chi student
Chin Hsu	...	Chi student
Liu Hung	...	Chi student
Feng Ku	...	Fang Cheng
Hao Li	...	Chi student
Chia-Liang Liu	...	Ba Shuang
Chia Yung Liu	...	Chi student
Kang Liu	...	Wu Yuan
Cliff Lok	...	Chi student (as Chin Tung)
Mars	...	Festival kid with mask
Chia Tang	...	Ting Peng
Ti Tang	...	Smiling Tiger Cheng Tien-shou
Feng Tien	...	Chi Ju-feng
No Tsai	...	Bandit Ma
Choh Lam Tsang	...	Waiter
Tsai Pao Tung	...	Bandit messenger
Kuang Yu Wang	...	Pei Hsun
Shih Chieh Wang	...	Cheng disciple
Tsing Wang	...	Chi student
Chih-Ching Yang	...	Long-Armed Devil
Shi-Kwan Yen	...	Chi student
Cheung-Yan Yuen	...	Chi student
Woo-ping Yuen	...	Chi student

Also Known As:

The One-Armed Swordsman (International: English title)

Runtime:

Germany:111 min (restored print)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (2007) | Portugal:M/12 | Hong Kong:IIA

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia (2003) (TV)

I was a skeptic... I was wrong. Completely lives up to it's reputation.

I have been a huge fan of HK action films for many years and have amassed a collection of 500+ kung fu films. Have heard about this film since forever, and assumed it was ground- breaking, influential, yada yada yada... but never really sought it out. I guess 'cause it's older than most and it's a swordplay film rather than all out kung fu action the likes of which Chang Cheh later specialized in (i.e. the Venoms films). However, finally having sat down and watched the remastered rerelease, I was absolutely blown away. One of the most emotionally intense HK films I have seen. Ignore naysayers... they must be heartless robots. Dramatically it is certainly on par with Lau Kar Leung's own films, and bears unmistakable thematic connections to his body of work (especially 8 Diagram Pole Fighter). Not to mention it's wonderfully filmed. If scenes are too dark, you just have a bad copy. The restored Celestial version is beautifully dark and vivid... no problem following the action. And there is plenty of action. Choreography is slightly dated, but it's 1967! The fighting is easily as good as anything from the era. And yes, I've seen the films the other reviewer mentions... also great films, but by no means superior fighting-wise. In fact, I'd venture to say it's an important milestone in the progression of kung fu choreography... with the fighting playing a pivotal role in the storytelling. Okay, most days I too would prefer to watch a Venoms movie, with my jaw dropped open in disbelief at the superhuman abilities on display... but come on... this undoubtedly deserves the credit it receives. Any true fan of HK films needs to see this.