The Magnificent Swordsman (1968)
A Shaw Brothers wuxia classic pitting an honorable lone swordsman against ruthless bandits in a tale of duty, honor, and redemption.
The Magnificent Swordsman - Movie Information
- Original Title: 怪俠
- Release Year: 1968
- Directed by: Cheng Kang, Griffin Yueh Feng
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Adventure
- Runtime: 1h 20m
- Original Language: CN
- Spoken Languages: Cantonese
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 1, 1968 (Hong Kong)
- Alternative Titles: The Magnificent Swordsman (HK), Guai xia (CN)
- Production Companies: Shaw Brothers
- Production Countries: Hong Kong
The Magnificent Swordsman - Plot
Lone swordsman Jiang Dan-Feng (Wong Chung-Shun) is ambushed by a pair of bandits and quickly despatches them. One of them, as he is dying, asks Jiang to take his personal effects to his sister. This being a Wuxia film, our hero is bound by a strict code of honour, and he agrees. The bandit's sister, Xiu Xiu (Shu Pei-Pei), is surprisingly forgiving and tells him that he got mixed up in a bad crowd of robbers before he died. As it happens, these self-same bandits are threatening to tear up the village at any moment, and Jiang prepares to defend it despite being despised by the town folk for killing Xiu Xiu's brother.
The Magnificent Swordsman - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Cheng Kang
- Griffin Yueh Feng
Main Cast
- Huang Tsung-Hsun
- Shu Pei-Pei
- Tien Feng
- Ching Miao
- Ngai Ping-Ngo
- Fan Mei-Sheng
- Ma Ying
- Chao Hsiung
- Shum Lo
- Ng Wai
Writers
- Ko Jui-Fen
Producers
- Run Run Shaw
The Magnificent Swordsman - FAQs
Who directed The Magnificent Swordsman?
The Magnificent Swordsman was co-directed by Cheng Kang and Griffin Yueh Feng, both veteran filmmakers at Shaw Brothers studio in Hong Kong. Cheng Kang in particular was a prolific director of wuxia and martial arts films during the studio's golden era of the 1960s and 1970s.
What is The Magnificent Swordsman about?
A lone swordsman named Jiang Dan-Feng kills two bandits in self-defense, then honors a dying attacker's wish by delivering his belongings to his sister, Xiu Xiu. Despite being resented by the villagers for killing her brother, Jiang stays to protect the community from the same bandit gang that threatened it.
Who are the main actors in The Magnificent Swordsman?
The film stars Huang Tsung-Hsun as the honorable swordsman Jiang Dan-Feng and Shu Pei-Pei as Xiu Xiu, the bandit's forgiving sister. The supporting cast includes Tien Feng, Ching Miao, Ngai Ping-Ngo, Fan Mei-Sheng, Chao Hsiung, and Shum Lo, among others.
Does The Magnificent Swordsman feature any notable early appearances?
Yes. Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, who would later become one of Hong Kong cinema's most celebrated action stars and choreographers, appears in an uncredited extra role in The Magnificent Swordsman. It stands as one of his earliest on-screen appearances during his time as a young Shaw Brothers performer.
What genre is The Magnificent Swordsman?
The Magnificent Swordsman is an Action and Adventure film belonging to the wuxia genre — a distinctly Chinese storytelling tradition centered on wandering martial artists bound by codes of chivalry and honor. It was produced by Shaw Brothers, the Hong Kong studio that defined the wuxia film genre throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
When was The Magnificent Swordsman released?
The Magnificent Swordsman was released on May 1, 1968, in Hong Kong. It was produced by Shaw Brothers, the legendary Hong Kong studio responsible for shaping the wuxia and martial arts film genres during that era.
How long is The Magnificent Swordsman?
The Magnificent Swordsman has a runtime of 80 minutes, making it a lean and efficiently paced wuxia adventure. The compact running time keeps the action and story moving briskly, which was characteristic of many Shaw Brothers productions from the late 1960s.
Who wrote The Magnificent Swordsman?
The screenplay for The Magnificent Swordsman was written by Ko Jui-Fen. The film was produced by Run Run Shaw, the co-founder of Shaw Brothers studio, who oversaw a vast output of martial arts and wuxia films that defined Hong Kong popular cinema during this period.
More About The Magnificent Swordsman
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