San shao ye de jian (1977)

Director:

Yuen Chor

Writers:

Yuen Chor (writer)
Lung Ku (novel)

Release Date:

7 July 1977 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Drama | Action

Plot Keywords:

Incognito | Fatalism | Love | Duel | Social Class

Cast

Tung-Shing Yee	...	'Third Master' Ah Chi
On-on Yu	...	Hsiao Li (as Candy Yu)
Ping Chen	...	Lady Mu-yung Chiu-ti
Yun Ling	...	Yen Shih-san
David Chiang	...	Mu-yung Chien-lung
Lung Ti	...	Hero Fu Hung Hsueh
Lieh Lo	...	Hero Huang Ting
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fei Ai
Kwok Kuen Chan
Shen Chan	...	Leader of Black Society
Szu-Chia Chen
Tien Lung Chen
Miao Ching
Alan Chui Chung San
Norman Chu
Mei Sheng Fan
Ging Man Fung
Ping Ha
Li Jen Ho
Hsia Hsu
Pei Chi Huang
Feng Ku	...	Miao Tzu
Kuan-chung Ku
Locke Hua Liu	...	Scholar
Wai Lo
Jamie Luk
Sha-fei Ouyang
Gwa-pau Sai
Ying Tan
Fat Tsui
Chiang Wang
Lung Wei Wang
Hang-Sheng Wu
Chih-Ching Yang	...	Tieh Hu
Nancy Yen	...	Yu Cheng (as Nan Hsi Yen)
Hua Yueh	...	Chou Yu-feng
Biao Yuen
Brandy Yuen
Corey Yuen
Shun-Yee Yuen
Wah Yuen

Also Known As:

Death Duel (Hong Kong: English title) (original subtitled version)
Jian shen lang zi (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) (working title)
Sam siu yeh dik kim (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Sword of the Third Master (Hong Kong: Cantonese title) (literal title)
The Peerless Swordsman (Hong Kong: English title) (working title)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Movie Connections:

Featured in Bruce Lee, the Legend (1977)

Atmospheric Wuxia Film from Yuen Chor

Yuen Chor was having a good run of films during the second half of the 1970's. Sentimental Swordsman, Magic Blade, Clans of Intrigue, Jade TIger were all made during this five year period. "Death Duel" is just one more during this time. As with his other films you can expect good photography, unique art direction and dozens of characters.

As with other successful Yuen Chor films, this one succeeds by focusing on one enigmatic main character for most of the film. However, the viewer will still have to deal with a lot of fascinating characters who show up and usually are killed off quickly. The body count in this film is very high. This film is very moody and the withdrawn character of Ah Chi make the story interesting. There are some uneven parts and the constant guest cameos from Shaw stars is a little annoying as you might wish that they would stick around longer in the film. That said, the script is above average, the pacing is good and by the time the ending comes around the film holds up.

Recommended.