Xue di zi (1975)

Director:

Meng Hua Ho

Writer:

Kuang Ni (writer)

Release Date:

October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

The Emperor's armies have developed a new weapon: a thrown blade that can remove someone's head from long distance...

Plot Keywords:

Flying Guillotine | Martial Arts | Death Squad | Despot | Assassination

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Kuan Tai Chen	...	Ma Teng
Feng Ku	...	Xin Kang
Hung Wei
Wu Chi Liu	...	Yu Ping
Ti Ai
Wei Tu Lin
Yue Wong
Yang Chiang	...	Emperor Yung Cheng
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ling Chiang
Norman Chu
Yao Ko Chu
Han Chou Ho
Tu Hung Hsi
Ricky Hui
Wei-ming Kuo
Sau Kei Lee
Lung Lei
Feng Lin
Wen-wei Lin
Peng-fei Li
Han Lo
Wei Lu
Min Min
Lao Shen
Hung Szeto
Han Chen Wang
Pai Wei
Hsiu Wen
Chi Chin Wu

Also Known As:

The Flying Guillotine (International: English title)

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Du bi quan wang da po xue di zi (1975)

Great, surprisingly plot driven outing for the deadliest of all weapons

I've been interested in flying guillotines ever since watching the lesser known, but pretty entertaining take off picture Fatal Flying Guillotines that starred Carter Wong. That was the first old school kung fu film that I ever bought and I still like them a lot, though I don't watch them quite as often. When I first saw this film I was mildly disappointed, as I expected more action and flamboyance in keeping with the other films to feature the flying guillotine. Its a real grower though, for I watched it again last night and had a great time. The talented Huo Meng Hua directs with his customary steady hand and flair for action, stirring up intrigue and providing satisfying, brutish fight scenes. Chen Kuan Tai is the main character, an assassin who has developed a conscience and though his acting may not be great, he is a fine fighter, fending off various opponents with his forceful but unshowy moves. There is less fighting in this film than one might expect, but the fight scenes are very much at the service of the plot and characters. The fights look more realistic than usual, with a good hard hitting style and antagonists who always seem credible, rather than the expected skilled, balletic opponents of some of the Shaw Brothers' other films. The story is decent and it takes its time to develop through the movie, with interesting characters and some well spun tension. Huo Meng Hua also scores highly with a paranoid imperial atmosphere, where people do terrible things to avoid being killed by the government and fear is rife. The flying guillotines are less the force of evil in the film than tyrannical rule and its crimes against the people, those who unquestioningly work for these regimes and those who seek to exploit them for personal gain. The guillotines themselves are just a tool in an iniquitous system and the film is focused more on humanity, and human iniquity than showcasing kung fu prowess. Which isn't to say that the film lacks in guillotine action, its just that it isn't as grisly or madcap as it might be. This is pretty much a very fine film, with a classy feel, great Shaw Brothers style and familiar yet lovable set designs. It has splashes of mild gore, good fighting in a good plot and surprising attention to characters. With perhaps a touch more energy it could be truly marvellous, but this is still ace viewing. Just don't confuse it with Master Of The Flying Guillotine, as this can easily lead to confusion.