Hong Xi Guan (1977)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Chia-Liang Liu

Writer:

Kuang Ni (writer)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

A couple unite - she is fluent in the crane style of kung fu, he in tiger style. They have a son, but...

Plot Keywords:

Wing Chun | Theater Troupe | Kung Fu Kid | Martial Arts | White Brow Priest

Cast

Kuan Tai Chen	...	Hung Hsi Kuan
Lily Li	...	Wan Yung-Chun
Lieh Lo	...	Priest Pai Mei
Yue Wong	...	Hung Wen-Ding
Chia Hui Liu	...	Tung Tien Chin
Kang-Yeh Cheng	...	Hsiao Hu
Tao Chiang	...	Kao Chin-Chung
Ching Tien	...	Wang Yeh
Lao Shen	...	Uncle Fang
Johnny Cheung	...	Shaolin pupil (as Chang Wu-liang)
Chiu Lee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Cheung	...	Swordsman priest (as Chang Wu-liang)
Hoi San Lee	...	Monk Chi San
Chia-Liang Liu	...	3-Sectional staff fighter

Also Known As:

Executioners from Shaolin (Hong Kong: English title) (original subtitled version)
Executioners of Death (USA) (dubbed version)
Hung Hei Kwun (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Shaolin Executioners (International: English title) (video title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-12 | USA:R

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Chia-Liang Liu]Opening credits show a demonstration of martial arts against an empty backdrop.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Excellent example of vintage Shaw Brothers.

Thank God for Celestial Entertainment's re-releasing of this classic! Okay, the plot is rather straightforward, and not terribly original (a revenge theme in a Martial arts movie. Nope, never seen that before!) But it is very well acted, very well directed and damn if the fight scenes aren't excellent.

Basically, it follows the historic destruction of the Shaolin Temple by the Manchus. The assault is led by Pai Mei, (yup, the same Pai Mei from Kill Bill 2, in fact, Bill even talks about this in that movie) played by Lo Lieh. Gordon Liu who played Pai Mei in Kill Bill 2, appears briefly as a Shaolin student who informs Hong Xiguan (played by Chen Kuan Ti) that Pai Mei killed their master. Gordon Liu sacrifices himself so that Hong and some of the other students may escape.

A few years later, Hong, hiding out as a Peking Opera performer, meets and marries another Martial Artist, played by Lily Li. They eventually have a child. But Hong cannot enjoy married life for too long, because he still has to train to avenge his master and his fellow students.

A good example of vintage Kung Fu films. Not to be missed by any Kung Fu film connoisseur.