As my chronological trip through my pile of unwatched Shaw films continues I wound up 1969 with The New One Armed Swordsman.
In a seeming attempt to outdo the original where Jimmy Wang Yu gets his arm cut off by a petulant girl Chang Cheh has David Chiang mutilate himself in this one. All a bit whacky but what follows is solid stuff as Chiang mopes convincingly in self pity, Ku Feng strokes his beard wth an appropriate level of wickedness and a multitide of nameless sword fodder get dispatched on all sides at every opportunity. Entertaining stuff but not quite up to the original for me.
[quote=âPhil H, post:81, topic:2162â]As my chronological trip through my pile of unwatched Shaw films continues I wound up 1969 with The New One Armed Swordsman.
In a seeming attempt to outdo the original where Jimmy Wang Yu gets his arm cut off by a petulant girl Chang Cheh has David Chiang mutilate himself in this one. All a bit whacky but what follows is solid stuff as Chiang mopes convincingly in self pity, Ku Feng strokes his beard wth an appropriate level of wickedness and a multitide of nameless sword fodder get dispatched on all sides at every opportunity. Entertaining stuff but not quite up to the original for me.[/quote]
I guess Iâll have to watch that original again
Watched both films when I was young and strongly preferred this one, but maybe time has changed me or the movies
[quote=âscherpschutter, post:83, topic:2162â]I guess Iâll have to watch that original again
Watched both films when I was young and strongly preferred this one, but maybe time has changed me or the movies[/quote]I saw the Chiang one years before the Jimmy.
[quote=âChris_Casey, post:85, topic:2162â]I like them bothâand I saw the David Chiang one before the original, as well. But, I always liked the original a bit better, myself.[/quote]The only reason i saw the Chiang one first is that it came out over here on vhs and the Jimmy Wang Yu one didnât.
[quote=âYodlaf Peterson, post:82, topic:2162â]Did you miss the second Jimmy one or have you not got it Phil?
Ku Feng btw is my favourite Shaw character actor.[/quote]
No, donât have The Return one Yod.
I enjoyed both that Iâve seen but I actually liked the slower pace of the original more.
And Ku Feng is great isnât he. Makes a great bad guy.
[quote=âPhil H, post:87, topic:2162â]And Ku Feng is great isnât he. Makes a great bad guy.[/quote]One of my favourite Ku Feng performances is in Black Magic as the evil spell caster.
Did i do you one of them Phil?
And Lo Lieh must have one of the sleaziest moustaches in history in it! ;D
[quote=âYodlaf Peterson, post:88, topic:2162â]One of my favourite Ku Feng performances is in Black Magic as the evil spell caster.
Did i do you one of them Phil?
And Lo Lieh must have one of the sleaziest moustaches in history in it! ;D[/quote]
Yes mate, Blackl Magic was one of the ones you sent me but as itâs from 1976 and Iâm working through my pile chronologically itâll be watched in a little while yet. This chronological approach is proving to be fruitful I think as Iâm seeing how Shawâs films developed over the years. Which is useful for a newbie fan like me.
[quote=âPhil H, post:89, topic:2162â]Yes mate, Blackl Magic was one of the ones you sent me but as itâs from 1976 and Iâm working through my pile chronologically itâll be watched in a little while yet. This chronological approach is proving to be fruitful I think as Iâm seeing how Shawâs films developed over the years. Which is useful for a newbie fan like me.[/quote]I see where your coming from. my favourite period has to be late 60âs to late 70âs, donât get me wrong there are a load of good 80âs ones but that late on in the Shaw catalogue the budget restraints began to really show sometimes.
For what it is worth, I actually prefer the Shaw Bros. films from the early 60âs until about the middle of the 70âs.
Highly enjoyed the HK Cinema Documentary, yesterdayâand I really, really liked DEATH VALLEY!
The latter is my kind of Shaw Bros. cinema!
I planned on watching MOODS OF LOVE yesterday, as well; but, I got sidetracked by THE WILD BUNCH and Boetticherâs BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE.
Hopefully, I will get around to watching MOODS⌠later today, though!
[quote=âChris_Casey, post:91, topic:2162â]Highly enjoyed the HK Cinema Documentary, yesterdayâand I really, really liked DEATH VALLEY!
The latter is my kind of Shaw Bros. cinema![/quote]Glad you enjoyed them, Lo Wei always seems to do a good job and entertain me, i donât know why he gets so much stick.
[quote=âPhil H, post:81, topic:2162â]As my chronological trip through my pile of unwatched Shaw films continues I wound up 1969 with The New One Armed Swordsman.
In a seeming attempt to outdo the original where Jimmy Wang Yu gets his arm cut off by a petulant girl Chang Cheh has David Chiang mutilate himself in this one. All a bit whacky but what follows is solid stuff as Chiang mopes convincingly in self pity, Ku Feng strokes his beard wth an appropriate level of wickedness and a multitide of nameless sword fodder get dispatched on all sides at every opportunity. Entertaining stuff but not quite up to the original for me.[/quote]
RETURN OF THE ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN is from 1969. NEW ONE ARM (aka TRIPLE IRONS) is from 1971. This film was more or less Shaw slinging mud back at Wang Yu for jumping ship to Golden Harvest before his contract expired. Shaw sued him (Jimmy was difficult to work with and prone to bullying people) and he wasnât allowed to do movies in HK until the early months of 1973. Wang Yu then skipped over to Taiwan where he began shooting quickie clones of Shaw Brothers movies in production at the time such as BOXER FROM SHANTUNG and HEROES TWO.
You probably wonât like RETURN as much as the original either, Phil. Itâs a far gorier film and more fantastical with almost nonstop action. Ti Lung has a small role in it as well.
Phil, you may be able to push this one up a bit. The first BLACK MAGIC is from 1975. The near identical sequel is from 1976. The original is the better film I think. The sequel amps up the sleaze and exploitation value, though.
[quote=âChris_Casey, post:59, topic:2162â]Thanks!
I have never seen this anywhere.
Iâll have to look around for it.[/quote]
Itâs been playing on cable for the last few years or more. I havenât seen it so much recently but it was on either Cinemax or Showtime as well as some Encore stations and IFC.
[quote=âAngel Face, post:93, topic:2162â]RETURN OF THE ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN is from 1969. NEW ONE ARM (aka TRIPLE IRONS) is from 1971. This film was more or less Shaw slinging mud back at Wang Yu for jumping ship to Golden Harvest before his contract expired. Shaw sued him (Jimmy was difficult to work with and prone to bullying people) and he wasnât allowed to do movies in HK until the early months of 1973. Wang Yu then skipped over to Taiwan where he began shooting quickie clones of Shaw Brothers movies in production at the time such as BOXER FROM SHANTUNG and HEROES TWO.
You probably wonât like RETURN as much as the original either, Phil. Itâs a far gorier film and more fantastical with almost nonstop action. Ti Lung has a small role in it as well.[/quote]
Vengeance was viewed this morning. Great film and an absolute claret fest. God only knows what David Chiangâs mum said when he took that white suit home to be washed. :o
Particularly liked the style of the film. The intercutting between the action and chinese opera was very effective and the slow mo was also used well. Would recommend this one to anyone.
I am enjoying it IâŚI⌠and it is certainly down to you getting me started. I am, as you know, most grateful. As I am to the other folk here who have continued to feed me new recommendations.
Itâs one of the things I have always valued about this site that folk here are not only into the one genre and have lots to say and advise about a wide range of films. For a general movie buff like me itâs a real blessing and what keeps me interested here. Along with all the Spaghetti stuff too of course
[quote=âPhil H, post:97, topic:2162â]Vengeance was viewed this morning. Great film and an absolute claret fest. God only knows what David Chiangâs mum said when he took that white suit home to be washed. :o
Particularly liked the style of the film. The intercutting between the action and chinese opera was very effective and the slow mo was also used well. Would recommend this one to anyone.[/quote]Glad you enjoyed it Phil, iâll have to get The Duel to you at one point
