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IMDbPro

Da dao Wang Wu

  • 19731973
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
149
YOUR RATING
Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
  • Action
  • Adventure
Following the director and star's landmark successes The Boxer From Shantung and Man Of Iron, came this powerful, exciting tale of a patriot committed to ending the corruption of the Ching r... Read allFollowing the director and star's landmark successes The Boxer From Shantung and Man Of Iron, came this powerful, exciting tale of a patriot committed to ending the corruption of the Ching rulers.Following the director and star's landmark successes The Boxer From Shantung and Man Of Iron, came this powerful, exciting tale of a patriot committed to ending the corruption of the Ching rulers.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
149
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Cheh Chang
    • Hsueh-Li Pao
  • Writer
    • Kuang Ni
  • Stars
    • Kuan Tai Chen
    • Hua Yueh
    • Lily Li
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Cheh Chang
    • Hsueh-Li Pao
  • Writer
    • Kuang Ni
  • Stars
    • Kuan Tai Chen
    • Hua Yueh
    • Lily Li
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)
    Da dao Wang Wu (1973)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kuan Tai Chen
    Kuan Tai Chen
    • Wang Wuas Wang Wu
    Hua Yueh
    Hua Yueh
    • Tan Tzu-tungas Tan Tzu-tung
    Lily Li
    Lily Li
    • Tan Chiaoas Tan Chiao
    Betty Pei Ti
    Betty Pei Ti
    • 'Camomile' Chin Chu-huaas 'Camomile' Chin Chu-hua
    Danny Lee
    Danny Lee
    • Hu Chias Hu Chi
    • (as Li Hsiu-Hsien)
    Ti Lu
    Ti Lu
    • 'Iron Fist' Yen Fengas 'Iron Fist' Yen Feng
    Tao Chiang
    Tao Chiang
    • Fei Fengas Fei Feng
    Nan Chiang
    Nan Chiang
    • Wen Pingas Wen Ping
    Lin Tung
    Lin Tung
    • Chung Lias Chung Li
    Ching Po Chang
    Ching Po Chang
    • Yen's hired handas Yen's hired hand
    Hsi Chang
    Hsi Chang
    Ti-Ko Chen
    Ti-Ko Chen
    Yi-Hsiung Chi
    Yi-Hsiung Chi
    Shao-Lin Chiang
    Shao-Lin Chiang
    • Brothel patronas Brothel patron
    Tien-Chu Chin
    Tien-Chu Chin
    • Village bystanderas Village bystander
    Yun-Kin Chow
    Yun-Kin Chow
    Yao-Ko Chu
    Yao-Ko Chu
    Feng Erh
    • Directors
      • Cheh Chang
      • Hsueh-Li Pao
    • Writer
      • Kuang Ni
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    Solid plot and a good darkness but the action is too infrequent and too unmemorable
    When legendary swordsman Wang Wu challenges the authority on a blanket arrest of men when really only one is guilty, his intervention (and its success) is observed by politician Tan Tzutung who tries to buy him a drink but is rebuffed. Later, Wang is attacked while getting his hair braided and Tan assists him, making them friends and allowing them to talk. Tan is a reformer but there are moves against such men and Wang knows it. He enlists Wang's help but within the world of politics nothing is to be trusted and soon the friends are in great danger in the name of their reforming efforts.

    I think the title translates as "Big Blade Wang Wu" but for some reason it was entitled Iron Bodyguard when I watched it. Either title suggests action and a tough edge and it is a real shame that it never really delivers this. The plot offers a good base but ultimately is the problem. We have a story here of political intrigue and conspiracy against the pure-of-heart heroes and I liked the idea that this engaging and rather slippery plot would engage me and thus make the action better. Sadly what it does is slow the film down. There is too much narrative almost, too many scenes of discussion and dialogue and not enough of action.

    The action starts well enough with a fun confrontation while Wang gets his hair did but from there it has surprisingly few action scenes. Those that it does have are not as thrilling or fun as I wanted them to be; I enjoyed their mostly dark tone but they really didn't deliver as much nor as frequently as they should have done. The cast are mostly OK and actually cope reasonably well with the low-action. Kuan Tai Chen is a decent lead; he has heroic looks, a strong chin, expressive face and a warm presence in the film. Hua Yueh works pretty well alongside him, although he was a little hammy and made me doubt his sincerity as a character. Ti Lu's Iron Fist is a bit disappointing – his presence is hinted at the very start of the film but he does nothing till the end and even then their fight is a little straightforward.

    Iron Bodyguard has a decent plot and dark elements but it spends too much time talking and too little time fighting. When the action does come it isn't as thrilling or as engaging as it should – it supports the narrative well but it is surprising that this is the element that seems to deliver the least.
    helpful•1
    0
    • bob the moo
    • Aug 22, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 8, 1973 (Hong Kong)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Language
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • The Iron Bodyguard
    • Production company
      • Shaw Brothers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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