One-Armed Swordsman
Encyclopedia
One-Armed Swordsman is a 1967 Hong Kong wuxia
film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio
. Directed by Chang Cheh
, it was the first of the new style of wuxia films emphasizing male anti-heroes, violent swordplay and heavy bloodletting. It was the first Hong Kong film to make HK$1 million at the local box office, propelling its star Jimmy Wang to super stardom.
Xiao Man nurses him back to health and the two fall in love. Fang Kang is nevertheless depressed as he is unable to practice his swordmanship. Reluctantly, Xiao Man gives him a half burnt kung-fu manual which she had inherited from her now dead parents. With its help Fang Kang is able to master a new one-armed style of swordplay, making him stronger than before.
Meanwhile master Qi Ru Feng is preparing for his 55th birthday and has invited all of his students to the celebration to choose a successor from amongst them so that he can retire from the martial arts world. However, his old enemies the Long-armed Devil and the Smiling Tiger Cheng are taking the opportunity to destroy Qi Ru Feng. Using a specially designed "sword-lock" they ambush and kill Qi's students travelling to the celebration.
Fang Kang inadvertently learns of the plot and, breaking his promise to Xiao Man not to involve himself in the martial arts world, rushes to save his master. He is delayed en route by the Long Armed Devil's accomplices and when he arrives the Long Armed Devil has already killed most of the students and wounded Qi Ru Feng. In a vicious battle Fang Kang manages to kill the Long Armed Devil, but chooses to return to Xiao Man and become a farmer, instead of taking his master's place at the school.
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio
Shaw Brothers Studio
The Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd., was the foremost and the largest movie production company of Hong Kong movies.From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution...
. Directed by Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh was Shaw Brothers Studio's best known and most prolific film director, with such films as the Five Venoms, the Brave Archer , the The One-Armed Swordsman, and other classics of wuxia and kung fu film.-Career:Referred to as "The Godfather of Hong Kong cinema", Chang Cheh directed over 100...
, it was the first of the new style of wuxia films emphasizing male anti-heroes, violent swordplay and heavy bloodletting. It was the first Hong Kong film to make HK$1 million at the local box office, propelling its star Jimmy Wang to super stardom.
Plot
The Golden Sword school is attacked by bandits. The servant Fang Cheng sacrifices his life to protect his master Qi Ru Feng. In gratitude, Qi accepts the dying Fang Cheng's son, Fang Kang, as his student. Years later, Fang Kang is scorned by his snobbish fellow students because of his poor background. Deciding that he will only cause trouble for his master Fang Kang leaves the school only to run into his classmates and his master's spoiled daughter, Pei Er. In the ensuing fight Fang's right arm is cut off by Pei Er, who is angry at his indifference towards her. Stumbling away, Fang falls off a bridge into the passing boat of a peasant girl Xiao Man.Xiao Man nurses him back to health and the two fall in love. Fang Kang is nevertheless depressed as he is unable to practice his swordmanship. Reluctantly, Xiao Man gives him a half burnt kung-fu manual which she had inherited from her now dead parents. With its help Fang Kang is able to master a new one-armed style of swordplay, making him stronger than before.
Meanwhile master Qi Ru Feng is preparing for his 55th birthday and has invited all of his students to the celebration to choose a successor from amongst them so that he can retire from the martial arts world. However, his old enemies the Long-armed Devil and the Smiling Tiger Cheng are taking the opportunity to destroy Qi Ru Feng. Using a specially designed "sword-lock" they ambush and kill Qi's students travelling to the celebration.
Fang Kang inadvertently learns of the plot and, breaking his promise to Xiao Man not to involve himself in the martial arts world, rushes to save his master. He is delayed en route by the Long Armed Devil's accomplices and when he arrives the Long Armed Devil has already killed most of the students and wounded Qi Ru Feng. In a vicious battle Fang Kang manages to kill the Long Armed Devil, but chooses to return to Xiao Man and become a farmer, instead of taking his master's place at the school.
Cast
- Jimmy Wang as Fang Kang
- Lisa Chiao ChiaoLisa Chiao ChiaoChiao Li Na or Lisa Chiao Chiao, often credited Chiao Chiao, is a Taiwanese film actress best known for her work in Hong Kong cinema. She was employed by the Shaw Studios between 1966 and 1972, where she appeared in films such as A Cause to Kill in 1970.In 1972 she briefly returned to Taiwan,...
as Xiao Man - Tien FengTien FengTien Feng is a Hong Kong actor for 60 years. He left for Hong Kong from Taiwan and started his career...
as Qi Ru Feng - Angela Pan as Qi Pei Er
- Yeung Chi-hing as Long Armed Devil
- Tang Ti as Smiling Tiger Cheng Tian Shou
- Fan Mei-sheng as Guo Sheng / Brother Hua
- Wong Sai-git as Qin Da Chuan
- Cheung Pooi-saan as Sun Hao
- Fan Dan as Feng's rich disciple
- Ku Feng as Fang Chang
- Chen Yen-yen as Feng's wife
- Wong Chung-shun as Wei Xuan
- Cheng Lui as Deng Chong
- Gai Yuen as Lu Zhen
- Wang Kuang-yu as Pei Xun
- Tong Gai as Ding Peng
- Lau Kar-leungLau Kar-leungLau Kar-Leung is a famous Hong Kong martial arts filmmaker, choreographer, and actor.Lau Kar-Leung is best known for his movies which he made during the 1970s and 1980s for the Shaw Brothers Studio...
as Ba Shuang - Hao Li-jen as Grandpa Wang
- Chiu Hung as Ah Shun
- Chai No as Brigand Chief Ma
- Chow Siu-loi as Brigand Chief Xu
- Hung Lau as Feng's disciple
- Cliff LokCliff LokCliff Lok, also Koo Lung, Ku Lung, Gam Tung, Chin Tong, Chin Tung, Lung Goon-Ting, Lung Kuan-Ting, Kan Tung, Kam Tung and Cliff Lok Kam Tung is a retired Chinese film actor and martial artist who worked in the Cinema of Hong Kong. He began his career at the Peking Opera...
as Feng's disciple - Lau Gong as Feng's disciple
- Siu Lam-wun as Feng's disciple
- Hui Gam as Feng's disciple
- Kong Lung as Feng's disciple
- Yen Shi-kwan as Feng's disciple
- Yuen Cheung-yanYuen Cheung-YanYuen Cheung-Yan is an actor, director, stuntman, and fight choreographer who has worked for many years in the Hong Kong film industry. During the 1970s and early 1980s, he worked with Yuen Woo-Ping and other members of the Yuen family on several films, some of them bizarre kung fu comedies such as...
as Feng's disciple - Yuen Woo-pingYuen Woo-pingYuen Woo-ping is a Chinese martial arts choreographer and film director, renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. He is one of the inductees on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong...
as Feng's disciple - Chan Chuen as Feng's disciple
- Lee Ho as Feng's disciple
- Hsu Hsia as Feng's disciple
- Chan Siu-pang as Feng's disciple
- Lau Kar-wing as Feng's disciple
- Tam Bo as Feng's disciple
- Law Kei as Feng's disciple
- Man Sau as Xiao Man's mother
- Chui Chung-hok as one of 4 Law Brothers
- Lee Siu-wa as one of 4 Law Brothers
- Chui Hing-chun as one of 4 Law Brothers
- Tung Choi-bo as bandit who delivers letter to Feng
- Tsang Choh-lam as waiter
- Yau Lung as servant
- Ting Tung as servant
- Chin Chun as street gambler
- MarsMars (actor)Mars , born Cheung Wing Fat is a Hong Kong actor, action director, stuntman and martial artist. He is one of Jackie Chan's best friends.-Early life:...
as street kid with mask - Yeung Jan-sing
- Gam Tin-chue
- Yeung Pak-chan
- Chan Siu-gai
- Wong Mei