Shi san tai bao (1970)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Cheh Chang

Writers:

Cheh Chang (writer)
Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1970 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

A Mogul king decides to take stealthy action to help overpower his greatest rivals. He chooses nine...

Plot Keywords:

Fighting | Cain And Abel | Diplomat | Tang Dynasty | Treachery

Cast

David Chiang	...	Li Tsun Hsiao
Han Chin	...	Li Szu Yuan
Lung Ti	...	Shih Ching Szu
Lily Li	...	Tsui Yen
James Nam	...	Li Tsun Hsin (as Nan Kung Hsun)
Chung Wang	...	Li Kang Chun
Feng Ku	...	Li Ke Yung
Sing Chen	...	Minister Chu Wen (as Chen Hsing)
Lei Cheng	...	Hsieh Chih Hsun
Kuang Yu Wang	...	Li Tsun Chang
Kang Liu	...	Li Tsun Chih
Chia Yung Liu	...	Li Tsun Shou
Pei Chi Huang	...	Li Tsun Chin
Chuan Chen	...	Li Tsun Shen (as Chen Chuan)
Wai Lo	...	Li Tsun Shiu (as Lo Wei)

Also Known As:

Divided We Fall (Hong Kong: English title) (working title)
Sap sam tai bo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
The Heroic Ones (Hong Kong: English title) (original subtitled version)
Thirteen Princes (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) (literal title)

Runtime:

117 min | Hong Kong:121 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | West Germany:18 (cut) | Australia:MA | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

New Territories, Hong Kong, China

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu (2003) (TV)

Hong Kong swashbuckler with David Chiang and Ti Lung as Tartar princes

THE HEROIC ONES (1970) is a large-scale 2-hour historical costume adventure set at the time of the Tang Dynasty in which the 13 sons of Tartar King Id fight on the side of the Emperor against assorted rebels. Directed by Chang Cheh, it's less a kung fu film than a fast-paced swashbuckler with a higher body count than any similar Hollywood epic. King Id is played by frequent Shaw Bros. villain Ku Feng, while his two favorite sons are played by David Chiang and Ti Lung, who would pop up as a team in several later near-epics also directed by Chang.

The action centers around a campaign by the 13 sons to wipe out a rebel faction. The family is undermined, however, by treachery within the ranks when two of the sons, jealous of the 13th prince (David Chiang), make a secret alliance with a court member in league with the rebels. The twists and turns which follow culminate in a tragic and bloody ending. It's a spectacular, fabulous-looking production with a large cast, massive sets, lots of action and bloodshed, and a compelling story.

While they weren't the Shaw Bros. studio's greatest kung fu stars, Ti Lung and David Chiang were both agile, athletic and energetic, twirling their swords, lances and spears with great flourish and fervor, and making superhuman acrobatic leaps with the help of convenient stuntmen. Other familiar Shaw Bros. actors appear in smaller parts, including Billy Tang, Lily Li and strongman Bolo Yeung (who is subdued and captured by the slender David in one far-fetched encounter).

Be aware that subtitled prints have dramatic scenes and extended dance segments missing from the English-dubbed version, while the English-dubbed version has action scenes missing from the subtitled print.